26 June 2020
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This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh pomegranate whole fruit and processed ‘ready-to-eat’ arils from India.
The final report recommends that the importation of pomegranate whole fruit and processed ‘ready-to-eat’ arils to Australia from all commercial production areas of India be permitted, subject to them meeting a range of biosecurity requirements.
The final report takes into account comments received from stakeholders on the draft report released on 18 October 2019.
The department announced the commencement of the risk analysis on 31 July 2018 (via Biosecurity Advice 2018-16) and released the draft report for public consultation on 18 October 2019 (via Biosecurity Advice 2019-P13). 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 pomegranate whole fruit and processed ‘ready-to-eat’ arils to Australia from India.
Fresh pomegranate whole fruit
The final report identifies 13 pests associated with fresh pomegranate whole fruit that require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level.
These pests are:
- Fruit flies: carambola fruit fly (Bactrocera carambolae), Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) and peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata)
- Scale insect: almond mealybug (Drosicha dalbergiae)
- Mites: pomegranate mite (Tenuipalpus granati) and pomegranate false spider mite (Tenuipalpus punicae)
- Thrips: western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) and mangosteen thrips (Scirtothrips oligochaetus)
- Mealybugs: grey pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes), papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) and vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus)
- Bacterium: bacterial blight of pomegranate (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae).
Two of the thrips species, western flower thrips and chilli thrips, have been assessed as regulated articles as they are capable of harbouring and spreading emerging tospoviruses that are quarantine pests for Australia, and therefore require risk management measures.
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.
The final report recommends risk management measures for fresh pomegranate whole fruit, combined with an operational system, to manage biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. These measures are:
- for fruit flies: area freedom or fruit treatment (such as cold treatment)
- for scale insect, mites, thrips and/or mealybugs: appropriate packing house practices combined with pre-export visual inspection and, if found, remedial action
- for bacterial blight of pomegranate: area freedom or a systems approach approved by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Processed arils
For processed arils, which are a part of the pomegranate fruit, three fruit fly pests have been identified in this risk analysis as requiring risk management measures:
- Carambola fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly and peach fruit fly.
This final report recommends area freedom, a systems approach approved by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, or fruit treatment to reduce the risks posed by the three quarantine fruit fly pests for processed arils, so as to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
Processed arils must also comply with Australia’s food safety requirements to ensure that any food safety hazards associated with the production and processing of pomegranate arils are appropriately managed.
The final report and more information about this risk analysis are available on 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.
Peter Creaser
A/g First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1)
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