6 June 2022
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Oriental melon and rockmelon fruit from Korea: biosecurity import requirements draft report.
This draft report proposes that the importation of commercially produced greenhouse-grown fresh oriental melon and rockmelon fruit to Australia from all commercial production areas of Korea be permitted, subject to a range of biosecurity requirements.
The draft report is being issued for a public consultation period, closing on 5 August 2022.
Stakeholders are invited to have their say on the draft report. We will consider all stakeholder comments received during the consultation period in preparing a final report.
We announced the commencement of this risk analysis on 29 May 2019, via Biosecurity Advice 2019-P07, advising it would be progressed as a review of biosecurity import requirements.
The draft report identifies 5 pests associated with commercially produced greenhouse-grown fresh oriental melon and rockmelon fruit from Korea, that require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level. These pests are:
- fruit fly: pumpkin fruit fly (Zeugodacus depressus)
- mites: Kanzawa spider mite (Tetranychus kanzawai)
- thrips: Eurasian flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa), western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and melon thrips (Thrips palmi).
All 3 thrips species (Eurasian flower thrips, western flower thrips and melon thrips) were also assessed as regulated articles for Australia, as they are capable of harbouring and spreading emerging orthotospoviruses that are quarantine pests for Australia.
The draft report proposes risk management measures, combined with an operational system, to reduce the risks posed by the 5 identified quarantine pests (including 3 also identified as regulated articles), so as to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. These measures are:
- For Zeugodacus depressus (pumpkin fruit fly):
- pest free areas, pest free places of production or pest free production sites, or
- fruit treatment considered to be effective against all life stages of fruit flies, such as irradiation.
- For thrips species and Tetranychus kanzawai (Kanzawa spider mite):
- pre-export visual inspection and, if found, remedial action.
The draft report and information about the risk analysis process are available on the Oriental melon and rockmelon fruit from Korea web page. Printed copies of the report are available on request.
We invite stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses to subscribe via our 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)
Email: imports@awe.gov.au