1 May 2013
This Biosecurity Advice announces the formal commencement of a non-regulated analysis of existing policy to consider a proposal to import fresh table grapes from Japan into Australia.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) will prepare a draft report, which will be issued for stakeholder comment in due course.
The commencement of this analysis is in response to a request for market access for fresh table grapes from Japan into Australia.
A preliminary assessment and pest categorisation for table grapes from Japan has been undertaken and most of the potential quarantine pests of concern identified are the same as, or similar to, quarantine pest species for table grapes from China, Korea, New Zealand, Chile and the United States (California) for which import policy exists. Given the similarity of pests of concern, and the potential mitigation measures, this market access request will be progressed as a non-regulated analysis of existing policy, consistent with the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2011.
The next step is to prepare and issue a draft report to give stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the analysis.
A Biosecurity Advice will be issued to announce that the draft report has been placed on the DAFF website, and to invite comments.
Following the consultation period, DAFF will consider all comments and publish a final report.
Tom Aldred
First Assistant Secretary
Plant Division