4 February 2015
This Biosecurity Advice announces the formal commencement of a non-regulated analysis of existing policy to consider a proposal to import fresh nectarine fruit from the People’s Republic of China (China) 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 nectarine fruit from China into Australia.
A preliminary pest categorisation for nectarine fruit from China has been undertaken and the potential quarantine pests of concern identified are the same as, or similar to, quarantine pests for fresh stone fruit from the USA (California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington) and New Zealand; and apples and table grapes from China for which import policy exists.
Given the similarity of pests of concern and that there are appropriate risk management measures for these pests, the risk analysis for nectarine fruit from China 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 provide stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the analysis.
Another 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.
Louise van Meurs
A/g First Assistant Secretary
Plant Division
Contact: David Heinrich
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3220
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email:
Plant