20 September 2000

PLANT BIOSECURITY POLICY MEMORANDUM       2000/17

IMPORT RISK ANALYSIS - ORNAMENTAL BULBS FROM THE NETHERLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM, ISRAEL AND NEW ZEALAND

This Plant Biosecurity Policy Memorandum (PBPM) provides stakeholders with information regarding the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) on the importation of ornamental bulbs from The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel and New Zealand.

In PQPM 2000/09 of 28 June 2000, AQIS advised stakeholders that the draft IRA on the importation of ornamental bulbs from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel and New Zealand was expected to be released to stakeholders in August for comment.  AFFA regrets that the release of the draft IRA document has been unavoidably delayed.

Mr Ian Atkinson's contract as a member of the Risk Analysis Panel has expired, and he has not sought to extend his membership of the RAP.  The RAP proposes not to replace Mr Atkinson at this late stage in the process as the bulk of the work on the IRA has been completed.  The AQIS Import Risk Analysis Process Handbook (1998) states that "A RAP will generally comprise three to five members, some with experience and expertise in quarantine risk analysis, and others with scientific or technical expertise in plant or animal diseases and pests relevant to the import proposal under consideration".  The remaining four members of the RAP cover the required breadth of expertise.

The draft is now expected to be released to stakeholders in early November, and you will then have 60 days to provide written submissions to AFFA on the technical issues raised in the document.

The public meeting that the RAP proposes to hold with stakeholders to discuss issues arising from the draft IRA paper has also been postponed to allow stakeholders time to consider the document first. The meeting is now proposed for 29th November at the Airport Motel and Convention Centre near Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne.  A shuttle bus is available from the airport for the convenience of interstate visitors, and the trip takes about 7 minutes.

If you wish to suggest inclusion of an additional stakeholder in our distribution list for this IRA, or if you wish to be removed from the distribution list, please provide details to the Import Risk Analysis Secretariat at the following address:

Import Risk Analysis Secretariat
Plant Biosecurity Policy
Market Access & Biosecurity
Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry - Australia
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Tel: 	(02) 6272 5094
Fax:	(02) 6272 3307
Email:	plantbiosec@affa.gov.au

Information on all IRAs and reviews being conducted by Plant Biosecurity Policy is available on the web at http://www.aqis.gov.au/docs/plpolicy/plhome1.htm

Brian Stynes
General Manager
Plant Biosecurity Policy

	Contact:		Import Risk Analysis Secretariat
	Telephone no: 	02 6272 5094
	Facsimile no: 	02 6272 3307
	E-mail:  		plantbiosec@affa.gov.au