23 June 2014
This Biosecurity Advice announces the formal commencement of a non-regulated analysis of existing policy to consider a proposal to import fresh table grapes from Sonora, Mexico, into Australia.
The Department of Agriculture will prepare a draft report, which will be issued for stakeholder comment.
The commencement of this analysis is in response to a request for market access for fresh table grapes from Sonora, Mexico, into Australia.
A preliminary assessment and pest categorisation for table grapes from Sonora, Mexico, has been undertaken and most of the potential quarantine pests of concern identified are the same as, or similar to, quarantine pest species for table grapes from the United States (California), Chile, China, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand, for which import policy exists. Given the similarity of pests of concern, and the potential mitigation measures, this market access request will be progressed as a non-regulated analysis of existing policy, consistent with the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2011.
The next step is to prepare and issue a draft report to give stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the analysis.
A Biosecurity Advice will be issued to announce that the draft report has been placed on the department’s website, and to invite comments.
Following the consultation period, the department will consider all comments in preparing a final report.
Tom Aldred
First Assistant Secretary
Plant Division
Contact: Louise van Meurs
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email: Plant Biosecurity