Questions and Answers

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources helps people and goods move in and out of Australia while keeping Australia safe and protecting our industries and environment from exotic pests that exist in many other parts of the world.

As part of this role, the department conducted a risk analysis of existing policy to respond to a market access request from India for fresh table grapes.

The final report for the risk analysis for table grapes from India identifies 15 pests which require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. Out of these 15 pests, 12 are arthropods and three are fungal pathogens.

The 12 arthropods are: Grapevine mealybug (Planococcus ficus), Coffee mealybug (Planococcus lilacinus), Pacific mealybug (Planococcus minor), Downey snowline mealybug (Rastrococcus iceryoides), Kanzawa spider mite (Tetranychus kanzawai), a leaf rolling moth (Archips machlopis), Black vine thrips (Retithrips syriacus), Grapevine thrips (Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus), Guava fruit fly (Bactrocera correcta), Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) and grapevine phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae).

The three fungal pathogens are: black rot (Guignardia bidwellii), brown rot (Monilinia fructigena) and grapevine leaf rust (Phakopsora euvitis).

The final report recommends a range of risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk posed by the 15 pests to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.

These measures include:

• visual inspection and remedial action for the spider mite, leaf rolling moth, mealybugs and thrips
• area freedom or fruit treatment (cold disinfestation or irradiation) for fruit flies
• area freedom or fruit treatment (irradiation, methyl bromide fumigation or combined sulphur dioxide/carbon dioxide fumigation followed by cold disinfestation) or a systems approach approved by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for spotted wing drosophila
• area freedom or fruit treatment (sulphur pads or combined sulphur dioxide/carbon dioxide fumigation) for grapevine phylloxera
• area freedom or a systems approach approved by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for black rot, brown rot and grapevine leaf rust
• a supporting operational system to maintain and verify the phytosanitary status of export consignments.

Australian regional differences were identified for a number of pests for Western Australia. The recommended phytosanitary measures take account of these regional differences.

The department consulted with stakeholders before starting this analysis and throughout the process. Stakeholders were given the opportunity to raise any concerns and were kept aware of the progress.

The department released the Draft report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for table grapes from India for a 30-day stakeholder consultation period on 22 July 2015.

Five submissions were received and were considered in the preparation of the final report.

Scientific information can be provided to the department at any time, including after a risk analysis has been completed. The department will consider the information provided and will review the import policy, as appropriate.

All food sold in Australia must satisfy Australia’s food standards. Australian law requires that all food, including imported fresh fruit, must meet the standards set out in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, state and territory food laws and the requirements of the Imported Food Control Act.

Yes. Australia allows the importation of table grapes for human consumption from Chile, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and the USA (California) provided they meet Australia’s import requirements.

Trade currently only occurs from the USA (California—counter seasonal and considerable trade since 2002) and Korea (counter seasonal and small quantities since 2014).

Yes. Over 50 per cent of Australia’s total table grape production is exported. In 2015, Australia exported approximately 87 000 tonnes worth about $257 million to several countries including India.

Australia’s key export markets include Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.

Yes. During 2010 to 2014, India exported between 64 000 and 148 000 tonnes of table grapes per year to more than 25 countries.
Indian exports are mostly destined for markets in Bangladesh, Netherlands, Russia, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom.

The main table grape export season for India is from February to the end of April. India’s export season overlaps Australia’s peak table grape production season.

A non-regulated analysis of existing policy is a process used by the department to consider an import proposal when most of the potential quarantine pests of concern identified are the same as, or similar to, quarantine pests for which import policies currently exist. These analyses are comprehensive reviews of existing policy and new science.

If the risks posed by an import proposal exceed Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP), the analysis will specify that the import will not proceed, unless appropriate measures have been identified that will reduce those risks to an acceptable level.

Australia has existing import policy for table grapes from Chile, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and the USA (California). There is also import policy for mangoes from India. Preliminary research has identified that the majority of pests associated with table grapes from India are the same as or similar to those previously assessed.

The analysis considers the risks of pests and diseases associated with the proposed import along with any sanitary and phytosanitary measures that could address these risks.

All World Trade Organization (WTO) Members are signatories to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement), under which they have both rights and obligations.

The basic obligations of the SPS Agreement are that SPS measures must:

• •    be based on a risk assessment appropriate to the circumstances or drawn from standards developed by the World Organization for Animal Health and the International Plant Protection Convention
• •    only be applied to the extent necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health
• •    be based on science
• •    not arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate between WTO members, or be a disguised restriction on trade.

Under the SPS Agreement, each WTO Member is entitled to maintain a level of protection it considers appropriate to protect human, animal or plant life or health within its territory – in other words, its appropriate level of protection.

ALOP is expressed as: providing a high level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection, aimed at reducing biosecurity risk to a very low level, but not to zero.

This definition has been reached with the agreement of all state and territory governments and recognises that a zero risk stance is impractical because this would mean Australia would have no tourists, no international travel and no imports.

The ALOP is a broad objective, and risk management measures are established to achieve that objective.

The term ‘biosecurity risk’ is used to describe the combination of the likelihood and the consequences of a pest or disease of biosecurity concern entering, establishing and spreading in Australia.

Australia's biosecurity system protects our unique environment and agricultural sector and supports our reputation as a safe and reliable trading nation. This has significant economic, environmental and community benefits for all Australians.

Using the latest available scientific information, a comprehensive analysis is undertaken of the potential biosecurity risks associated with an import of animals, plants or other goods into Australia. It plays an important role in protecting Australia’s biosecurity.

If the assessed level of biosecurity risk exceeds Australia’s ALOP, the department will consider whether there are any risk management measures that would reduce biosecurity risk to achieve the ALOP. If there are no risk management measures that reduce the risk to that level, trade will not be allowed.

A comprehensive risk assessment of pests and diseases will be undertaken and risk management options will be recommended to address any risks of exotic pests and diseases. Any recommended measures will reflect Australia’s overall approach to the management of biosecurity risk.

Zero risk is impossible; it would mean no tourists, no international travel and no imports of any commodities. Australia invests heavily in biosecurity to ensure risks are managed to the lowest possible level.

Australia exports almost two thirds of its agricultural produce. The future of our agriculture and food industries, including their capacity to contribute to growth and jobs, depends on Australia’s capacity to maintain a good plant and animal health status.

Australia accepts imports only when we are confident the risks of pests and diseases can be managed to achieve Australia’s ALOP.

After risk analysis, if risk mitigation measures achieve Australia’s ALOP, imports may occur. However, it will be a commercial decision to apply for an import permit in order for imports to commence.