The following summaries of apple import risk analysis team meetings provide an update on progress with the IRA on apples from New Zealand.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 37
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis (IRA) held a teleconference on 25 August 2006.
The IRA team was informed that the IRA report had been provided to the ESG for formal review. An overview of the procedures and timeline for this process were outlined. The IRA team were informed that members of BA had met with the ESG.
Major issues
Other topics discussed by the IRA team included:
- Update on the progress of the ESG review
- Trade volume
- Export grade standards for NZ apples
- Processes for producing the Final IRA report
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 36
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis (IRA) met in Canberra on 19 - 20 June 2006.
The meeting focused on reviewing the work that had been completed towards a final draft including reviewing notes from the recent stakeholder meetings and addressing some of the major issues that where identified from submissions.
Submissions received
The IRA team was informed that Biosecurity Australia had received 40 submissions from stakeholders.
Stakeholder consulations
The meeting was informed of several proposed meetings with key stakeholders scheduled for June 2006 to verify certain issues raised by stakeholders.
Major issues
Other topics discussed by the IRA team included:
- Update on stakeholder meetings
- Stakeholder issues relating to modelling
- Issues requiring consideration in the Final Report
- Classification and addressing of stakeholder issues
- Review of the previous meeting records
The next meeting was scheduled as a teleconference.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 35
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis (IRA) met in Canberra on 22 – 24 May 2006.
The meeting focussed on giving the IRA team an update on the submissions received on the December 2005 draft IRA. The IRA team reviewed the range of issues in the submissions and discussed the preliminary views of the IRA team members. In addition the IRA team considered in detail the next steps that would be necessary to prepare a final report including proposed stakeholder consultations.
Submissions received
The IRA team was informed that Biosecurity Australia had received 40 submissions including 2 marked as confidential.
The IRA team reviewed all submissions in detail and identified the major areas that needed to be addressed in the final IRA.
Stakeholder consultations
The meeting was informed of several proposed meetings with key stakeholders scheduled for June 2006 to verify certain issues raised by stakeholders.
Major issues
Other topics discussed by the IRA team included:
- Agreement on topics to be discussed
- Review of previous meeting records
- Next steps in the process and timing
- New Science
- Submission cataloguing
The next meeting was scheduled to be held in Canberra 19 -20 June 2006
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 34
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple IRA met via teleconference on 8 May 2006.
The meeting focussed on an update on the submissions received on the December 2005 draft IRA report and the major issues from these submissions and the views of the IRA team on the submissions they had read. In addition the IRA team briefly considered the next steps that would be necessary to prepare a final report including proposed stakeholder consultations.
Submissions received
David Heinrich informed the meeting that 39 submissions had been received to date including those that had been received after the closing date of the submission period. BA had corresponded with the two organisations that had submissions that were considered as confidential.
Proposed stakeholder consultations
Bill Roberts informed the IRA team of several proposed meetings with key stakeholders in the coming months.
Major issues from submissions
Bill Roberts led a discussion on the major issues arising from the submissions that will need substantial consideration. This included discussing a list of general issues that had been compiled from a first reading of the submissions.
Action arising
Copies of submissions not sent to the IRA team members at the time of the meeting will be distributed. A copy of a list of major issues from submissions will also be sent to the IRA team for consideration.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 33
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple IRA met via teleconference on 16 March 2006.
The topics discussed included:
- an update on meetings between BA and stakeholders
- release of the excel spreadsheet
- procedure for dealing with submissions
- scheduling of IRA team meetings
- anticipated timing of events
- update on WTO, SPS issues
- other business
Stakeholder meetings
Bill Roberts provided an outline of the discussions that had been held with a range of stakeholders including Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), Bill Bryant from Bryant Christie Inc., a group representing the US apple industry, New Zealand Government officials and Pipfruit New Zealand. Bill Roberts broadly outlined the major issues that these organisations raised in discussions and reiterated that the IRA team would need to see if these issues were articulated in the submission provided to BA.
Release of the excel spreadsheet
Bill Roberts informed the group that the excel spreadsheet use in the IRA report had been made available to stakeholders on request. At the time of the meeting, 14 stakeholders had received a password protected version of the spreadsheet.
Procedure for dealing with submissions
The meeting was informed that four submissions had been received. The IRA team would need to see the full body of submissions prior to making a final procedure on how best to deal with them.
Scheduling of meetings
The IRA team members discussed their availability for future meetings to commence consideration of comments during April 2006.
Anticipated timing of events
Bill Roberts provided a brief outline of events required to prepare a final report. It was anticipated that the IRA team would require at least three months to consider stakeholder comments however the total time would be dependent on the amount and complexity of comments received.
Update on WTO and SPS
Bill Roberts provided a brief outline of the actions that New Zealand had undertaken in the recent SPS meetings.
Action arising
IRA team members agreed to provide details of their availability for future meetings.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 32
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis (IRA) met via teleconference on 18 November 2005.
The topics discussed included editorial changes made to the document since the version dated November 2005 was issued to the IRA team, editorial comments, clearance procedures and acceptance of the document by the IRA team.
Editorial Changes
David Heinrich outlined the editorial changes that had been made to the document subsequent to the last printed version sent to the IRA team.
Editorial comment
The IRA team members gave editorial comment on a draft version of the IRA report (dated November 2005).
Clearance procedures
Bill Roberts outlined the current progress of the clearance and quality control procedures and gave an update as to what further procedures may be required including the procedure for acceptance of the document be the IRA team.
Action arising
IRA team members to provide any final comments on the document as soon as possible.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 31
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis met via teleconference, 18 October 2005.
The meeting focused primarily on editorial comments and clearance procedures and acceptance of the document by the IRA team.
Editorial comment
All IRA team members provided editorial comment on a draft version of the IRA report (dated 14 October).
Clearance procedures
Bill Roberts gave a general description of the clearance and quality control procedures that the document was going through within BA. There was also a general discussion on the possible timing of the release once all quality control checks had been under taken. Prior to the release of the document the IRA team would need to give its final written agreement to release the report for a further period of public consultation.
Action arising
IRA team members would provide additional comments on the document as soon as possible.
A copy of the paper titled "Can Erwinia amylovora exist in a viable , but non–culturable state?" would be sent to all IRA team members
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 30
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis met via teleconference on 11 September.
Discussion focussed on progress with preparation of the next draft of the IRA report:
- risk management for apple leaf curling midge
- European canker risk management
- recent information provided by Apple and Pear Australia Limited
- editing of the document
- clearance procedures.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 29
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis met in Canberra 8–10 August 2005.
The meeting focused on revision of the draft IRA report and technical issues contained in it.
The meeting undertook a detailed examination of the unrestricted risk and risk management measures steps for significant pests identified in the revised draft report, considering the relevant issues identified within the stakeholder submissions.
The meeting undertook a detailed examination of the statistical models being incorporated into the IRA.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 28
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis met in Canberra 19–21 July.
The meeting focused on revision of the draft pest risk assessments for fire blight, European canker and apple leaf curling midge, and updates on other situations relevant to the New Zealand Apple IRA.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 27
The Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis met in Canberra 7–9 June 2005.
The meeting focussed on revision of the draft pest risk assessments and received updates on various activities relevant to the IRA, for example statistical modelling, and reviewed draft risk management measures, such as the effect of chlorine treatment on fire blight.
A statistical workshop involving the Bureau of Rural Sciences, other relevant experts and stakeholder experts was held on 18 May 2005 to clarify statistical and modelling issues.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 26
A meeting of the import risk analysis team for the New Zealand Apple Import Risk Analysis (IRA) was held from 9–13 May 2005.
The meeting reviewed the outcome of technical discussions between the IRA team and key stakeholders from 7–13 April 2005.
The meeting focused on the review of stakeholder technical issues undertaken by BA technical personnel and the incorporation of these comments into revised draft reports.
The meeting undertook a detailed examination of the importation steps of all pests identified in the revised draft report incorporating the issues identified in submissions and a detailed examination of statistical issues identified by stakeholders.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 25
A meeting of the import risk analysis team for the New Zealand apple IRA was held from 2–3 March 2005.
The meeting focused on the planning of future activities, the project plan that would be required to reissue the revised draft report and commenced preparations for discussions with stakeholders.
The meeting undertook a detailed examination of two submissions and made a preliminary identification of issues that would need to be clarified with these stakeholders.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 24
A meeting of the import risk analysis team for the New Zealand apple IRA was held from 1–3 February 2005.
The Interim Chief Executive of Biosecurity Australia provided the IRA team with an update on changes to the organisation and made a commitment to provide resources to complete the revised draft for reissue.
The meeting identified a number of projects that could be undertaken to resolve major issues raised by stakeholders in their submissions.
The meeting discussed the major methodological issues raised by stakeholders and considered ways in which this could be addressed in the final draft.
The meeting undertook a detailed examination of 41 submissions and made a preliminary identification of issues that needed to be addressed.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 23
A meeting of the import risk analysis team for the New Zealand apple IRA was held from 7–9 December 2004.
BA provided the IRA team with updates on previous action items, Biosecurity Australia’s new structure and a database layout for recording submissions. The IRA team also reviewed a draft project plan and had initial discussions on statistical methodology and the need to seek other expert advice on this matter.
The meeting continued its discussions on the development and refinement of a strategy for addressing the issues raised by stakeholders. To assist in this the IRA team continued its detailed examination of submissions from Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) and 17 other smaller submissions.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 22
A meeting of the import risk analysis team for the New Zealand apple IRA was held from 9–11 November 2004.
Biosecurity Australia provided the IRA team with updates on issues that arose with the re-election of the Government. As a result of the commitments of the incoming government a number of changes had been proposed to the structure and operation of Biosecurity Australia. These included establishing BA as a prescribed agency and the reissue of a revised draft IRA report.
The meeting continued its discussions on the development and refinement of a strategy for addressing the issues raised by stakeholders. To assist in this, the IRA team undertook a detailed examination of submissions from Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) and 20 other smaller submissions.
The meeting also discussed the necessary phases of a draft project plan to reissue the revised draft IRA report.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 21
A teleconference of the import risk analysis team for the New Zealand apple import risk analysis was held on 19 October 2004. This was an informal discussion to determine future dates of meetings and to inform members of the changes proposed by the Minister to Biosecurity Australia and the IRA process.
Summary of apple IRA team meeting 20
A meeting of the Import Risk Analysis team for the New Zealand apple IRA was held from 17–19 August 2004.
This was the first face-to-face meeting of the IRA team after the close of the comment period on 23 June 2004.
BA provided the IRA team with updates on issues that arose since the release of the revised draft report, Senate inquiry into the revised draft IRA, the regional stakeholder meetings, the 10th international workshop on fire blight and the Ministerial announcements on the new measures for the conduct of IRAs including the structural changes to BA and the appointment of an Eminent Scientists Group (ESG).
Discussions focussed on the development of a strategy for addressing the issues raised by stakeholders. To assist in this the IRA team undertook a preliminary examination of submissions by Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), the Government of New Zealand, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 105 one or two-page submissions that were mostly form letters. The IRA team noted the need to identify, rank and categorise issues, communicate with stakeholders and respond to the comments and also delineate the roles of the IRA team, BA and the ESG. The initial scan of the submissions by APAL, NZ and the USDA also identified several points needing clarification either through writing or stakeholder meetings.