18 July 2013
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final non-regulated analysis of existing policy for Californian tables grapes to Western Australia.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) recommends that the importation of fresh table grapes for human consumption into Western Australia from California be permitted subject to the same quarantine conditions that apply for Californian table grapes exported to the rest of Australia.
Biosecurity Advice 2012/06 (29 March 2012) announced the formal commencement of a non-regulated analysis of existing policy to consider extending market access for Californian table grapes into Western Australia.
A draft report was issued for consultation on 9 April 2013 (Biosecurity Advice 2013/06). Thirteen submissions were received on the draft report. After the consultation period, DAFF met with representatives from Table Grapes Western Australia to discuss its submission.
DAFF gave careful consideration to all submissions in completing the final report.
Fresh table grapes from California have not been imported into Western Australia previously, but have been imported into the other Australian states and territories since 2002. In conducting this analysis, DAFF took into consideration import conditions already established for the import of fresh table grapes from California into other Australian states and territories.
Under the current policy for the import of Californian table grapes to other Australian states and territories, biosecurity measures are used to manage the risk of exotic pests and diseases to a very low level in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
The biosecurity measures used for the importation of Californian table grapes to the rest of Australia include:
- pest management measures:
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- fumigation treatment with sulfur dioxide or carbon dioxide (SO2/CO2) for the management of grapevine phylloxera as well as three spiders
- fumigation treatment with SO2/CO2 followed by cold disinfestation treatment for the management of spotted wing drosophila
- visual inspection and remedial action (if there is a detection) for the management of grape erineum mite, hornbeam spider mite, williamette mite, pacific mite, consperse stink bug, glassy-winged sharpshooter, vine mealybug, grape mealybug, navel orangeworm, orange tortrix, grape leaffolder, salt marsh moth, western grapevine skeletoniser, omnivorous leafroller, bean thrips, grape thrips, Frankliniella minuta, Californian citrus thrips and western flower thrips
- area freedom or non-host status for the management of grape curculio, grape looper, grape root worm, grape berry moth, McDaniel spider mite, avocado thrips, European grapevine moth, black rot, angular leaf spot, a rust (Physopella ampelopsidis), angular leaf scorch and Mediterranean fruit fly
- supporting operational maintenance systems and verification of phytosanitary status.
In addition to the quarantine pests included in the current Californian table grape policy, the report identifies 14 additional pests of potential quarantine concern to Western Australia. The pest risk assessment found that one of these potential quarantine pests, the harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), did not achieve Australia’s ALOP.
To manage the risks associated with the import of fresh table grapes from California to Western Australia the report recommends to continue the measures in the current policy. The report also recommends adding the harlequin ladybird to the list of species to be managed by visual inspection and remedial action, if detected, for the import of Californian table grapes to Australia.
Grapevine red blotch associated virus (GRBaV) has recently been confirmed in North America and stakeholders have raised their concerns about its possible association with imported table grape bunches. The final report includes additional information on this virus at Appendix D and DAFF continues to monitor the status of this virus in the US. This virus is associated with planting material and DAFF has put in place measures to manage this virus on the nursery stock pathway.
Printed copies are available, if required.
Vanessa Findlay
Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer
Plant Division
Contact: Bill Magee
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 4333
Email: Plant