433-1 Anyang6-dong, Manan-gu, Anyang, Gyeonggi-do 433-016, Republic of Korea
TEL: +82-31-446-1926, 445-9485 FAX: +82-31-445-6934
Louis van Meurs
General Manager
Plant Biosecurity
Biosecurity Australia
Australia
T) +61 2 6272 5094
F) +61 2 6272 3307
11 July 2008
Dear Louis van Meurs,
This is in response to the draft import risk analysis report for fresh fruits of paprika fruit from the Republic of Korea which was released on 20 May 2008.
I would first like to thank you for the release of the draft IRA report on paprika. After the release, NPQS conducted a public hearing among the interested parties including domestic producers and the results of the review are as follows:
First, I would like to request you to correct the information on the paprika cultivation area under Section 3.2.1:
- Paprika cultivation area
- 12 cities and including Geoje, Gimhae, Masan and Miryang belong to Gyeongsangnam-do (Province)
- Cheongsong County is in Gyeongsangbuk-do (Province)
- Buyeo, Yesan, and Jincheon counties belongs to Chungcheongnam-do (Province)
- Gimje City which belongs to JeoIlabuk-do (Province) is left out and the total cultivation area in Jeollabuk-do is 52.3ha
Next, I would like to make a suggestion with regard to the arrival inspection of paprika in Australia under Section 5.12. In my opinion, it is too much to suspend overall export program if the paprika continues to be rejected at the arrival inspection in Australia. Paprika is managed under strict supervision from the cultivation to harvest by farms or by growers organizations. It seems irrational and difficult to accept the fact that rejections of a limited number of farms may impact the whole paprika farms. Hence, I believe that instead of suspending the whole export program, only the exportation by the farm rejected during the arrival inspection should be suspended and may be resumed once appropriate measures are in place.
In addition, because paprika export farms are required to register with NPQS and registration number must be indicated on the packing according to your draft report, it is possible to trace back paprika export farms. Therefore, I would like to suggest that if AQIS informs NPQS of the rejection and the relevant information including the number of the phytosanitary certificate of the rejected cargo after the arrival inspection, NPQS is required to take improvement measures including export ban and then inform this to AQIS.
The following are the proposed revision of the draft:
If product continually fails inspection, the exportation of the product by the greenhouse concerned may be suspended and audited by AQIS with reinstatement after it is satisfied that appropriate corrective action has been taken. AOIS shall provide NPOS with relevant information including the refection of the product and details of the greenhouse concerned NPQS shall immediately suspend export inspection of the greenhouse concerned, take appropriate corrective action and inform AQIS of the result.
Because NPQS would like to see the completion of IRA as soon as possible, we have tried to minimize the suggestions on the draft report. Your positive consideration will be greatly appreciated. I hope this issue will be discussed in detailed at the upcoming Korea-Australia Plant Quarantine Meeting.
Once again, I hope the IRA process will be finalized in the near future in order to allow export of paprika from Korea to Australia during this year.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Sincerely yours,
[Signed]
Chang-Young PARK
Director
International Quarantine Cooperation Division
National Plant Quarantine Service
Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
The Republic of Korea
Cc: Ms. Paula Svarcas, Australian Embassy in Seoul, Korea
Disclaimer: The department received this submission in hardcopy only, which has been converted into an accessible format to meet Australian Government accessibility requirements. While due care was taken to ensure the information was reproduced accurately, the PDF should be considered the original document for official purposes.