11 June 2021
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to exporters, exporting National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs) and importers (and their customs brokers) of fresh kiwifruit for consumption from Italy and France.
Date of effect
11 June 2021.
Notice
The Department has been in contact with the Italian Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari e forestali (MiPAFF) and French Ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation (MAAFF) over several seasons on imported fresh kiwifruit interception rates and options to reduce pest loads.
The department has recently conducted a review of pest interception data for imported fresh kiwifruit for consumption from Italy and France. This review identified groups of quarantine pests and regulated articles with an unrestricted risk estimate that exceeds Australia’s Appropriate level of Protection (ALOP).
All imports of fresh kiwifruit for consumption from Italy or France will be required to undergo methyl bromide fumigation prior to export to achieve Australia’s ALOP. BICON will be updated with this additional mitigation measure prior to the start of the 2021 import season, anticipated to commence in October 2021. The department recognises the significant impact that this will have on trade and as such alternative mitigation measures proposed by the exporting NPPO’s will be assessed as a priority if they are received.
Further information
For additional information you can email Plant Import Operations Branch at imports@aff.gov.au or phone 1800 900 090.