15 August 2017
This Biosecurity Advice announces the formal commencement of a review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department) will prepare a draft report which will be issued for stakeholder comment in late 2017.
The commencement of this review of biosecurity import requirements is in response to formal requests for market access for fresh breadfruit from Fiji and Samoa. The review will be expanded to cover Tonga, which had previously expressed an interest in exporting fresh breadfruit to Australia.
A preliminary assessment of the pests potentially associated with breadfruit has been undertaken. The preliminary assessment has identified that the pests of potential quarantine concern are the same or of the same pest group as quarantine pests assessed previously by the department, for which import policy exists.
The pests identified in the preliminary assessment as being of potential quarantine concern are fruit flies and mealybugs and there are established phytosanitary risk management measures for these pests of quarantine concern.
Based on the outcome of the preliminary assessment, the department will conduct this risk analysis as a non-regulated review of biosecurity import requirements. The department conducts a review of biosecurity import requirements when relevant risk management measures for potential quarantine pests have already been established. This is consistent with the Biosecurity Act 2015 and Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis Guidelines 2016.
Further information on the analysis can be found in the Announcement Information Paper released with this advice notice.
The next step is to prepare a draft report to provide stakeholders with the opportunity to comment on the review. The release of the draft report for comment is proposed for late 2017.
Another Biosecurity Advice will be issued to invite comment once the draft report has been completed and placed on the department's website.
Following the consultation period, the department will consider all comments of a technical nature in preparing a final report.
If you have any further queries or require more information please contact the department by emailing Plant
Lois Ransom
A/g First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Contact: Peter Creaser
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3355
Email: Plant