This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Dragon fruit from the Philippines: biosecurity import requirements final report.
The final report recommends that the importation of commercially produced dragon fruit to Australia from all commercial production areas of the Philippines can be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements.
The final report takes into account comments received from stakeholders on the draft report released on 9 December 2022.
We announced the commencement of the risk analysis on 21 February 2022 (via Biosecurity Advice 2022-P01) and released the draft report for public consultation on 9 December 2022 (via Biosecurity Advice 2022-P11). 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 from the Philippines for dragon fruit to Australia.
The final report identifies 8 pests associated with dragon fruit from the Philippines that require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level. These pests are:
- fruit flies – oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) and melon fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae)
- mealybugs – grey pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes), papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) and Jack Beardsley mealybug (Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi)
- thrips – western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) and melon thrips (Thrips palmi).
The final report recommends risk management measures, combined with an operational system, to ensure biosecurity standards are met.
The recommended risk management measures, together with the operational system, will reduce the risks posed by the 8 identified pests, to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. These measures are:
- for fruit flies
- pest free areas, pest free places of production or pest free production sites, or
- fruit treatment considered to be effective against fruit flies such as irradiation or vapour heat treatment
- for mealybugs and thrips
- pre-export visual inspection and, if found, remedial action.
The final report and more information about this risk analysis are available on the Dragon fruit from the Philippines webpage.
We invite stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses to subscribe via our 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.
Monica Collins
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant and Science Services Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (when prompted select option 1, then option 1)
Email: imports@aff.gov.au