Questions and Answers

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture (the department) helps people and goods move in and out of Australia while keeping Australia safe and protecting our industries from pests that exist in many other parts of the world.

As part of this role, the department is responding to a market access request from India for fresh table grapes.

A non-regulated analysis of existing policy (a review) is a process that identifies and assesses the risks posed by any unwanted pests that might be imported on Indian table grapes and are not present in Australia.

If the risks associated with a proposed import exceed Australia’s appropriate level of protection, the analysis of existing policy specifies what measures should be taken to reduce those risks to an acceptable level.

A non-regulated analysis is undertaken when the potential quarantine pests of concern are the same as, or similar to, quarantine pests for commodities from other countries for which import policy exists.

Import policy already exists for table grapes from China, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Chile and the USA (California). There is also import policy for mangoes from India.

A preliminary assessment of table grapes from India indicated that the potential quarantine pests belong to the same pest groups previously assessed in other risk analyses; and there are established phytosanitary risk management measures for these pests.

Given the similarity of pests of concern and that there are established risk management measures for these pests, the department determined that the market access request for table grapes from India would be conducted as a non-regulated analysis of existing policy, rather than a regulated import risk analysis.

This approach is consistent with the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2011.

Unlike a regulated analysis, there is no specific timeframe required to complete a non-regulated analysis of existing policy.

The draft report identifies 15 pests of quarantine concern that require phytosanitary measures. Out of these 15 pests, 12 are arthropods and three are fungal pathogens.

The 12 arthropods are: Grapevine mealybug (Planococcus ficus), Coffee mealybug (Planococcus lilacinus), Pacific mealybug (Planococcus minor), Downey snowline mealybug (Rastrococcus iceryoides), Kanzawa spider mite (Tetranychus kanzawai), a leaf rolling moth (Archips machlopis), Black vine thrips (Retithrips syriacus), Grapevine thrips (Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus), Guava fruit fly (Bactrocera correcta), Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), and grapevine phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae).

The three fungal pathogens are: black rot (Guignardia bidwellii), brown rot (Monilinia fructigena) and grapevine leaf rust (Phakopsora euvitis).

The draft report proposes a range of risk management measures, combined with a system of operational procedures to ensure quarantine standards are met. These measures are considered to reduce the risk posed by the identified quarantine pests, and achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. These measures include:

• visual inspection and remedial action for the spider mite, leaf rolling moth, mealybugs and thrips
• area freedom or fruit treatment (cold disinfestation or irradiation) for fruit flies
• area freedom or fruit treatment (irradiation, methyl bromide fumigation or combined sulphur dioxide/carbon dioxide fumigation followed by cold disinfestation) or a systems approach approved by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture for spotted wing drosophila
• area freedom or fruit treatment (sulphur pads or combined sulphur dioxide/carbon dioxide fumigation) for grapevine phylloxera
• area freedom or a systems approach approved by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture for black rot, brown rot and grapevine leaf rust
• a supporting operational system to maintain and verify the phytosanitary status of export consignments.

A regional difference was identified for one pest. A spider mite species was identified as a quarantine pest for Western Australia.
The proposed quarantine measures take account of this regional difference.

A pest risk analysis has been undertaken to identify and assess any pests of quarantine concern. The pest risk analysis concludes that a range of risk management measures, combined with a system of operational procedures to ensure quarantine standards are met, will provide an appropriate level of protection. Australia has established measures to manage these pests.

The assessment is based on the latest available scientific information and reflects Australia’s stringent approach to managing biosecurity risks.

Science-based risk analysis provides an important foundation for safe trade. Australia accepts imports only when we are confident that the risks of quarantine pests that could be associated with specific imports can be managed in accordance with Australia’s appropriate level of protection. This means the risks must be reduced to at least a very low level.

Australia exports almost two-thirds of its agricultural produce. The future of our agricultural and food industries, including their capacity to contribute to growth and jobs, depends on Australia’s capacity to maintain a good plant and animal health status. Our future also depends on the conditions our industries face overseas.

It is important to Australia that fair and consistent trading rules are in place around the world, as provided by the World Trade Organization. We cannot expect trading partners to take our produce if we are not prepared to apply the same rules to their products. Nor could we be optimistic about new markets opening up.

A ‘zero risk’ stance is impractical as it would mean no tourists, no international travel and no imports of any commodities. Nevertheless, Australia invests heavily in biosecurity to ensure that risks are managed to at least a very low level.

The department consulted with stakeholders before starting this analysis and throughout the drafting of the report. Stakeholders were given the opportunity to raise any concerns, and were kept informed of the progress.

The department has released the Draft report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for table grapes from India for a 30 day stakeholder consultation period.

Stakeholders have the opportunity to raise their concerns during this consultation period, which will close on 21 August 2015.
Anyone interested in this draft report, or any future reports, should register as a stakeholder through the department's website.

Imported food for human consumption must satisfy Australia’s food standards. Australian law requires that all food, including imported food, meets the standards set out in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is responsible for developing and maintaining the Code, including Standard 1.4.2, maximum residue limits. The standards apply to all food in Australia, irrespective of whether it is grown domestically or imported.

Yes. Australia allows the importation of table grapes for human consumption from Chile, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and the USA (California) provided they meet Australia’s quarantine requirements. However, trade currently only occurs from the USA (California—counter seasonal) and Korea (counter seasonal and small quantities).

Yes. Australia currently produces around 120 000 tonnes of table grapes annually and exported over 85 000 tonnes during 2014 to several countries including India.

Key export markets for Australian table grapes include Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Malaysia.

Yes. During the past five years, India exported between 64 000 and 148 000 tonnes of table grapes per year to more than 25 countries.

India’s main export markets for table grapes include the Netherlands, Russia, Bangladesh, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.

The main table grape export season for India is from February to the end of April. India’s export season overlaps Australia’s peak table grape production season. However, Australia may not be an attractive export market for Indian table grapes.