22 January 2013
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders that Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine (the Director) has determined a policy for the importation of fresh ginger for consumption from Fiji based on consideration of the Final import risk analysis report for fresh ginger from Fiji. In doing so, the Director provides guidance to the department’s permit issuing staff to take account of the measures set out in that final import risk analysis report in considering applications for permits.
Background
In response to a proposal from Fiji, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) completed an import risk analysis (IRA) on fresh ginger for consumption from Fiji. The IRA was completed in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2011 (IRA Handbook) for a standard regulated process.
The IRA process commenced on 13 August 2010 (Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) 2010/23). A draft IRA report was released for a 60-day consultation period on 16 April 2012. On 10 August 2012, the provisional final IRA report was released for a period of 30 days (Biosecurity Advice (BA) 2012/18), during which appeals could be made on the basis of a failure by DAFF to follow proper process, as set out in the IRA Handbook. No appeals were received.
The Director considers that the risk management measures set out in this final report will achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP) against identified quarantine pests. The Director has made a policy determination that provides guidance to DAFF permit issuing staff to take account of the measures contained in the final IRA report. The determination does not of itself permit the importation of fresh ginger.
Recommended measures
The final IRA report recommends a combination of risk management measures and operational systems that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of fresh ginger for consumption from Fiji into Australia to achieve Australia’s ALOP, specifically:
- sourcing ginger only from registered export farms, via registered packing houses
- either a systems approach for in-field management of Radopholus similis – putative intraspecific ginger variant, or methyl bromide fumigation of rhizomes
- pre-export phytosanitary inspection, as well as certification by the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, identifying details of the grower and packing house
- on-arrival phytosanitary inspection to ensure that ginger rhizomes infested with Aspidiella hartii, Radopholus similis – putative intraspecific ginger variant, or any other regulated articles, are identified and subjected to remedial action
- clearance by DAFF biosecurity officers.
The policy will be taken into account by DAFF officers when considering import permit applications for fresh ginger for consumption from Fiji, in accordance with the Quarantine Act 1908 and Quarantine Proclamation 1998, as amended.
Next steps
This determination is an administrative step and is not the final step in the entire import process. There are a number of other steps that must be completed before imports can commence.
Importantly, a work plan will need to be developed with the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji in order that Fiji can demonstrate that its phytosanitary system complies with Australia’s import requirements.
DAFF will visit Fiji to audit the implementation of agreed import conditions and measures, including registration of production sites, operational procedures in packing houses and any treatment practices, such as fumigation.
No import permit will be issued until DAFF is completely satisfied that import conditions are consistent with measures proposed to manage biosecurity risks, and that Fiji is able to comply. The issuance of an import permit is a regulatory process that is subject to judicial review.