14 August 2019
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh decrowned pineapples from Taiwan.
The final report recommends that the importation of fresh decrowned pineapples to Australia from all commercial production areas of Taiwan be permitted, subject to it meeting a range of biosecurity requirements.
The final report takes into account comments received from stakeholders on the draft report released on 29 August 2018.
The department announced the formal commencement of the risk analysis on 23 August 2017 (via Biosecurity Advice 2017/17) and released the draft report for public consultation on 29 August 2018 (Biosecurity Advice 2018/22). Comments from stakeholders on the draft report were taken into consideration in preparing the final report.
This risk analysis was conducted in response to a formal market access request for fresh decrowned pineapples to Australia from Taiwan. Fresh decrowned pineapples are Taiwan’s highest horticultural priority for new market access.
The final report identifies five quarantine pests and two regulated articles (regulated thrips) associated with fresh decrowned pineapples from Taiwan that require risk management to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level. These pests are:
- Mealybugs: grey pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes), papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus), Madeira mealybug (Phenacoccus madeirensis), Pacific mealybug (Planococcus minor), and Jack Beardsley mealybug (Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi)
- Thrips: cotton thrips (Frankliniella schultzei) and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). These thrips are regulated articles because they can carry and spread orthotospoviruses that are quarantine pests for Australia.
The final report recommends a risk management measure, combined with an operational system, to manage the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. This measure is pre-export methyl bromide fumigation.
The final report and more information about this risk analysis are available on the department’s website. Printed copies of the report are available on request.
The department invites stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses to subscribe via the department’s online subscription service. By subscribing to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Plant, you will receive Biosecurity Advices and other notifications relating to plant biosecurity policy, including this risk analysis.
Dr Marion Healy
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1)
Email: imports@aff.gov.au