22 May 2020
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| Document | Pages | File size |
|---|---|---|
Plant Biosecurity Advice 2020-P04 - Draft Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports—Part 2 PDF  |
2 | 230 KB |
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This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Draft Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports—Part 2.
The draft report supports measures implemented on 1 March 2018 that manage the biosecurity risks associated with the importation of cut flowers and foliage into Australia.
The draft report is being issued for public consultation. Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments by 20 August 2020.
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders that the department has completed the Draft Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports—Part 2.
The department announced the commencement of Part 2 of the pest risk analysis on 18 April 2019 (Biosecurity Advice 2019-P05).
The pest risk analysis (PRA) for fresh cut flower and foliage imports was initiated to assess the biosecurity risk to Australia posed by key arthropod pest groups, and to determine whether the introduction of the revised import conditions, on 1 March 2018, manages the biosecurity risk to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
The PRA is being conducted in two parts. Part 1, which was completed in June 2019, assessed the three major arthropod pest groups—mites, aphids and thrips. Part 2 is assessing all other arthropod pests associated with fresh cut flowers and foliage. This includes all beetles, flies, bugs (other than aphids), wasps, bees and ants, and moths and butterflies.
Of the 582 species of arthropod pests assessed in Part 2, the report found that 357 species are quarantine pests for Australia, and a further four species are classified as potential regulated articles as they can transmit pathogens of biosecurity concern for Australia.
The biosecurity risks posed by these 361 arthropod pest species do not achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
Therefore risk management measures are required to manage the risks.
The risk management measures proposed in this report include:
- The use of one of three arthropod pest management options by the exporting country before the flowers are exported:
- NPPO‑approved systems approach; or
- Pre-export methyl bromide fumigation; or
- NPPO‑approved alternative pre-export disinfestation treatment.
- The requirement of the exporting country’s National Plant Protection Organisation to verify that the cut flowers and foliage for export are free from live pests.
- The requirement, in certain circumstances, for import permits to import cut flowers and foliage from certain countries.
- The requirement for imported cut flowers and foliage to be inspected at the Australian border and treated if live pests are found to be of biosecurity concern (including quarantine pests and regulated articles).
The proposed measures, when applied correctly, will reduce the biosecurity risks posed by these pests and achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
These risk management measures are the same as those recommended in Part 1 of the PRA. These measures are also the same as those implemented when the import conditions were amended on 1 March 2018 and subsequently updated on 1 September 2019 to include the requirement for import permits.
Stakeholders are invited to have their say on the draft report. The closing date to submit comments is 20 August 2020. The department will consider all stakeholder comments received during the public consultation period in preparing a final report.
The draft report and information about the pest risk analysis are available online.
Stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses are invited 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.
Mr Peter Creaser
A/g First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1)
Email Imports