Biosecurity Fact Sheet: Strawberries from Korea

• The department recently published import conditions for fresh strawberries from the Republic of Korea following a rigorous risk analysis process.
• The import conditions are available on BICON, the department’s biosecurity import conditions database.
• The department published the final report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for fresh strawberries from Korea on 19 January 2017. Several stakeholder submissions were received on the draft report that was published on 25 August 2016.
• The department is currently considering a market access request for fresh strawberries from Japan.

Australia’s agricultural sector has a strong trade focus and relies on biosecurity policies to safeguard the nation’s favourable human, animal and plant health status to protect both our domestic production and to maintain competitiveness and access to overseas markets.

As a World Trade Organization member Australia is required to consider import requests from other countries to meet its international obligations by assessing proposals and developing the least trade restrictive and scientifically justified import conditions where required.

The department applies rigorous science to assess market access applications from our trading partners. The same scientific principles are used by our trading partners when assessing Australian commodities.

Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP) is expressed as providing a high level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection aimed at reducing risk to a very low level, but not to zero.

The department assessed the biosecurity risks of importing fresh strawberries from the Republic of Korea in response to a market access request from Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. Australia and Korea have a strong two-way trading relationship, with our agricultural exports to Korea worth $2.7billion in 2015-16. Additional resources were allocated to the risk analysis through the 2015 Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

The import conditions for fresh strawberries from Korea are published on BICON, the department’s biosecurity import conditions database. Publication of import conditions follows a rigorous scientific process to identify and assess the risk of introduction, establishment and spread of pests and diseases associated with strawberry production, published in the form of a final review of biosecurity import requirements on 19 January 2017.

The stakeholder submissions received on the draft report that was published on 25 August 2016 were considered in the preparation of the final report and are publically available on the department’s website.

The final report for the risk analysis for fresh strawberries from Korea identified five pests of biosecurity concern which require risk management measures.

The import conditions for strawberries from the Republic of Korea include:

• mandatory methyl bromide fumigation offshore for spotted wing drosophila; and
• pest free places of production for angular leaf spot; and
• consignment freedom verified by pre-export visual inspection and, if detected, remedial action for a spider mite and two thrips.

The recent publication of import conditions for fresh strawberries from Korea operationalises the policy developed as part of the review of biosecurity import requirements. Publication of import conditions is not a decision to commence trade for this commodity, any trade resulting from this agreement remains a commercial decision. If an exporter in Korea and an importer in Australia decide to commence the import of strawberries from Korea to Australia, an import permit issued by the department is required. The permit will specify the conditions that must be followed for importation. The Korean strawberry production season runs from December through to April.

The publication of import conditions is not considered the end of the process for biosecurity risk management. Changes to import policy and conditions can occur and normally result from a change in pest status, or as part of review processes (including after the first year of trade). If new scientific information becomes available, it can be provided to the department for consideration at any time, including after trade has commenced. The department will consider the information provided and can change or suspend import requirements based on this new scientific information or interceptions of pests with consignments of the strawberries.

Additional resources were allocated to the analysis through the 2015 Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

The department is currently considering a request for market access for fresh strawberries from Japan. Australia and Japan have a strong two-way trading relationship, with agriculture exports worth over $4.8 billion in 2016.

The objective of undertaking a risk analysis is to ensure that any fresh products imported into Australia are free from unwanted pests and diseases. The department initially identifies pests and diseases associated with fruit or vegetable production and export in the source country that are not present in Australia. The assessment includes analysis of the potential that pests or diseases are brought in on the fresh product and recommends risk management measures if required. If there are no available risk management measures for a particular biosecurity risk to achieve ALOP, trade is not permitted until suitable measures are identified.

The department also seeks to verify commercial production, washing, packing, and export practices in the source country before determining the phytosanitary measures to be applied to mitigate any potential risks that do not achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.

Stakeholders are invited to register their interest so they can receive updates and contribute to the development of risk analysis report. Registration is via the department’s website.

The department can be contacted at any point regarding this information via the contact details below.

Phone: (02) 6272 5094
Email: Plant Stakeholders