14 December 2017
This Biosecurity Advice announces the formal commencement of a review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh dragon fruit (Genus Hylocereus) from Indonesia.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department) will release a draft report for public consultation in January 2018.
The commencement of this risk analysis is in response to a market access request for fresh dragon fruit from Indonesia to Australia.
A preliminary assessment of the pests associated with fresh dragon fruit from Indonesia has identified that the potential pests of quarantine concern (fruit flies and mealybugs) are the same, or of the same pest groups, as those pests associated with fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam. Given there are no new pest groups identified for Indonesian dragon fruit, and the review of biosecurity import requirements for the importation of fresh dragon fruit from Vietnam was recently finalised on 12 January 2017, this report will be based on the policy for dragon fruit from Vietnam and the measures proposed will be the same as those for Vietnam.
Based on this outcome, this risk analysis is being conducted as a review of biosecurity import requirements (a non-regulated risk analysis), which is consistent with the Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis Guidelines 2016.
Further information on this risk analysis can be found in the Announcement Information Paper.
The department intends to release a draft report for public consultation in January 2018. The department will consider all submissions received during the consultation period in preparing a final report.
This risk analysis is funded through the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper to strengthen biosecurity surveillance and analysis.
Robyn Cleland
A/g First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Contact: Peter Creaser
Telephone: +61 2 6272 5094
Email:
Plant Stakeholders