10 December 2018
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the draft report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh longan fruit from Vietnam.
The draft report proposes that importation of fresh longan fruit from all commercial production areas of Vietnam be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements.
The draft report is being issued for an extended 75 calendar day public consultation period from the standard 60 days, due to the Christmas/New Year holiday period. Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments by 25 February 2019.
The department announced the commencement of this risk analysis on 14 March 2018, via Biosecurity Advice 2018-03, advising it would be progressed as a review of biosecurity import requirements.
The draft report identifies 11 quarantine pests and two regulated articles (regulated thrips) associated with fresh longan fruit from Vietnam that require risk management measures, in combination with operational systems, to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.
The quarantine pests identified are:
- Fruit flies: guava fruit fly (Bactrocera correcta), Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), melon fruit fly(Zeugodacus cucurbitae)
- Fruit borer:litchi fruit borer (Conopomorpha sinensis)
- Mealybugs: grey pineapple mealybug(Dysmicoccus neobrevipes), cocoa mealybug(Exallomochlus hispidus), litchi mealybug (Planococcus litchi), Pacific mealybug(Planococcus minor), coffee mealybug(Planococcus lilacinus), intercepted mealybug(Paracoccus interceptus) and citriculus mealybug(Pseudococcus cryptus)
The regulated articles identified are chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). These thrips are regulated articles because they can carry and spread orthotospoviruses that are quarantine pests for Australia.
The proposed risk management measures include:
- area freedom or fruit treatment (such as irradiation or cold disinfestation treatment) for fruit flies
- consignment freedom verified by pre-export visual inspection and, if found, remedial action for mealybugs and thrips
- area freedom, fruit treatment (such as irradiation or cold disinfestation treatment) or a systems approach for litchi fruit borer.
Upon finalising this policy, Vietnam must be able to demonstrate to the department that processes and procedures are in place to implement the agreed risk management measures. This will ensure safe trade in fresh longans from Vietnam. Import conditions can then be published on the department’s biosecurity import conditions (BICON) database.
The draft report and more information about this risk analysis are available on the department’s website. Printed copies of the report are available on request.
Stakeholders are invited to have their say on the draft report. The public consultation period has been extended to 75 calendar days, from the standard 60 days, due to the Christmas/New Year holiday period.
The extended consultation period closes on 25 February 2019. The department will consider all stakeholder comments received during the consultation period in preparing a final report.
The department invites stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses to subscribe via the department’s online subscription service. By subscribing to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Plant, you will receive Biosecurity Advices and other notifications relating to plant biosecurity policy, including this risk analysis.
Dr Marion Healy
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1)
Email: Imports