16 April 2021
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This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Draft report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh Capsicum spp. fruit from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
This draft report proposes that the importation of fresh capsicum and chilli (Capsicum spp.) fruit from all commercial production areas of the listed Pacific Island countries be permitted for human consumption, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements.
The draft report is being issued for a public consultation period, closing on 15 June 2021.
Stakeholders are invited to have their say on the draft report. The department will consider all stakeholder comments received during the consultation period in preparing a final report.The department announced the commencement of this risk analysis on 21 September 2018, via Biosecurity Advice 2018-23, advising it would be progressed as a review of biosecurity import requirements.
The draft report identifies 13 pests associated with fresh Capsicum spp. fruit that require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level. These pests are:
- fruit flies: oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), tropical fruit fly (Bactrocera facialis), fruit fly (Bactrocera kirki), Fijian fruit fly (Bactrocera passiflorae), New Guinea fruit fly (Bactrocera trivialis), Pacific fruit fly (Bactrocera xanthodes) and melon fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae)
- whitefly (Bemisia tabaci complex)
- mealybugs: Pacific mealybug (Planococcus minor) and Jack Beardsley mealybug (Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi)
- thrips: chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis), melon thrips (Thrips palmi) and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci).
All three thrips species were assessed as regulated articles as they are capable of harbouring and spreading emerging orthotospoviruses that are quarantine pests for Australia and therefore require risk management measures. Pacific mealybug and melon thrips have been identified as regional quarantine pests for Western Australia. Melon thrips is also a regional quarantine pest for South Australia.
The draft report proposes risk management measures, combined with an operational system, to ensure biosecurity standards are met.
The proposed risk management measures will reduce the risks posed by the 13 identified quarantine pests to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia.
The proposed measures for whiteflies, mealybugs and thrips are:
- pre-export visual inspection, and if found, remedial action, or
- methyl bromide fumigation.
The proposed measures for fruit flies are:
- area freedom (including pest free areas, pest free places of production or sites), or
- fruit treatment considered to be effective against all life stages of fruit flies present in the exporting country, or
- conditional non-host status for specific Capsicum spp. varieties.
The draft report and information about the risk analysis process 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.
Dr Chris Parker
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1)
Email: imports@aff.gov.au