Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/25 - Final review of policy for the importation of Phalaenopsis nursery stock from Taiwan
26 August 2010
Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/25
This Biosecurity Australia Advice (BAA) notifies stakeholders that the review of the policy for the importation of Phalaenopsis nursery stock from Taiwan has been finalised. The importation of Phalaenopsis nursery stock may be permitted subject to the Quarantine Act 1908 and an application of phytosanitary measures as specified in the Final review of policy: Alternative risk management measures to import Phalaenopsis nursery stock from Taiwan.
Biosecurity Australia received a request from Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), in June 2006, seeking acceptance of equivalent measures to Australia’s current conditions for commercially produced Phalaenopsis orchid nursery stock. Currently, Phalaenopsis nursery stock is permitted entry into Australia and requires mandatory insecticidal dipping on arrival and a minimum of three months of post-entry quarantine (PEQ) in Australia.
The draft policy review document was released on 20 August 2009 for a 30 day consultation period (BAA 2009/20). Following stakeholder consultation all comments received were carefully considered in the finalisation of the policy review.
The final policy, including additional measures required by Biosecurity Australia, has the following mitigation measures to minimise the risk of pests entering the importation pathway.
- tissue cultured plants, sourced from mother plants that have been tested and found free from identified pathogens, are transferred to quarantine standard production houses in Taiwan
- tissue cultured plants are grown in soil free media such as perlite, vermiculite, inorganic fibres or pasteurised sphagnum moss in BAPHIQ approved production houses for a minimum of four months
- an insecticidal and fungicidal treatment is applied, prior to export of the nursery stock to Australia and phytosanitary inspection by BAPHIQ officers is conducted immediately prior to export.
- all Phalaenopsis nursery stock will be subject to inspection on arrival by AQIS officers. The detection of live insects, disease symptoms or regulated articles will result in the failure of the consignment, and remedial action.
To ensure compliance with the proposed systems approach, Biosecurity Services Group officers will audit the production system and BAPHIQ’s accreditation scheme and conduct on arrival inspections of Phalaenopsis nursery stock to verify that Australia’s quarantine requirements are met.
The policy will be taken into account by decision makers when considering import permit applications for Phalaenopsis nursery stock from Taiwan in accordance with the Quarantine Act 1908 and Quarantine Proclamation 1998 as amended.
Australia and Taiwan will now develop a detailed work plan and work instructions. These need to be approved by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service before any import permit can be issued.
Dr Colin J Grant
Chief Executive