13 December 2019
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh avocados from Chile.
The final report recommends that the importation of fresh avocados to Australia from all commercial production areas of Chile be permitted, subject to it meeting a range of biosecurity requirements.
The final report takes into account comments received from stakeholders on the draft report released on 28 February 2019.
The department announced the commencement of the risk analysis on 23 March 2018 (via Biosecurity Advice 2018-05) and released the draft report for public consultation on 28 February 2019 (Biosecurity Advice 2019/P03). Comments from stakeholders on the draft report were taken into consideration in preparing the final report.
This risk analysis was conducted in response to a formal market access request for fresh avocados to Australia from Chile.
The final report identifies seven quarantine pests associated with fresh avocados from Chile that require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level.
These pests are:
- fruit fly: Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata)
- mealybug: grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus)
- thrips: Chilean flower thrips (Frankliniella australis), tamarugo thrips (Frankliniella gemina) and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)
- Oligonychus spider mites: avocado brown mite (Oligonychus punicae) and avocado red mite (Oligonychus yothersi).
Western flower thrips has been identified as a regional quarantine pest for the Northern Territory because interstate quarantine regulations and enforcement are in place for this species. This thrips species was also assessed as a regulated article for all of Australia, as it is capable of harbouring and spreading emerging orthotospoviruses that are quarantine pests for Australia.
The final report recommends risk management measures, combined with an operational system, to ensure biosecurity standards are met. The recommended risk management measures will reduce the risks posed by the seven identified quarantine pests, so as to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
These measures are:
- For Mediterranean fruit fly: area freedom or fruit treatment (such as cold disinfestation treatment) for all cultivars, or hard condition of fruit for the Hass cultivar only.
- For mealybug, thrips and spider mites: pre-export visual inspection and, if found, remedial action.
The final report, stakeholder comments and information about the risk analysis process are available from the department’s website. Printed copies of the report are available on request.
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