19 December 2013
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of a draft risk analysis report to consider a proposal for the release of the geometrid moth Eueupithecia sp.2 for the biological control of the weed Parkinsonia aculeata. The draft report is being issued for 30 days consultation. Written comments and submissions are invited by 20 January 2014.
The Department of Agriculture has released a draft risk analysis report assessing an application from CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences to release the geometrid moth Eueupithecia sp.2 for the biological control of the weed Parkinsonia aculeata. In support of this application, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences has provided a submission detailing results of host specificity testing, along with other relevant information. This submission is included as an attachment to the draft report.
A preliminary draft risk analysis report was distributed to state and territory departments of primary industry and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) through the Plant Health Committee (PHC). Comments received via this consultation process were incorporated into the draft risk analysis report. All comments endorsed the preliminary draft and its recommendations.
CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences submitted an application for the release of the moth Eueupithecia sp.2 in July 2013.
The Department of the Environment also has an approval process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. Under Section 303EE (4) of the EPBC Act, this draft risk analysis report may be used by the responsible Minister in making a determination to include the item on the List of specimens suitable for live import (the live import list). The Department of Agriculture has consulted with the Department of the Environment prior to the release of the draft report and a link will be provided on the Department of the Environment website to the report. The Department of the Environment has supported the findings of the report and the release of the draft risk analysis report for consultation.
The draft report proposes that the biological control agent should be released, subject to standard quarantine conditions associated with the import and release of biological control agents. The draft report has identified no significant off-target effects or potential consequences that would be associated with the release of Eueupithecia sp.2. The risk is estimated to be negligible, which meets Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
Printed copies can be provided, if required.
In accordance with the IRA handbook 2011, this risk analysis has been undertaken as a non-regulated analysis of existing policy. Stakeholders will have up to 30 days to submit written comments on the draft report. Comments must be submitted by 20 January 2014 to:
Biosecurity – Plant
Department of Agriculture
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Email: Plant Biosecurity
Confidentiality
Stakeholders are advised that, subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, all submissions received in response to Biosecurity Advices will be publicly available and may be listed or referred to in any papers or reports prepared on the subject matter.
The Commonwealth of Australia reserves the right to reveal the identity of a respondent unless a request for anonymity accompanies the submission. Where a request for anonymity does not accompany the submission, the respondent will be taken to have consented to the disclosure of their identity for the purposes of Information Privacy Principle 11 of the Privacy Act 1988.
The contents of the submission will only be treated as confidential if they are marked ‘confidential’ and can be classified as such in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Tom Aldred
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant
Contact: Semy Siakimotu
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email: Plant Biosecurity