19 January 2012
This Biosecurity Advice announces the formal commencement of a pest risk analysis (PRA) to assess the plant quarantine risks from the importation of fresh island cabbage from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu for human consumption.
DAFF Biosecurity will prepare a draft report in due course, which will be circulated to stakeholders for comment.
DAFF Biosecurity is assessing the quarantine risks associated with the importation of fresh island cabbage (Abelmoschus manihot) leaves from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
In announcing this PRA, DAFF Biosecurity has considered advice from the Import Market Access Advisory Group (IMAAG), which advises DAFF Biosecurity on priorities for import proposals. Island cabbage from the Pacific was considered a Priority A on the most recent IMAAG priority list.
The next step is to issue a draft report to present the results of the risk analysis. DAFF Biosecurity will issue a Biosecurity Advice (BA) announcing that a draft PRA report has been placed on its website and invite comments on the draft report. Stakeholders will have up to 60 days to submit written comments on the draft PRA report.
DAFF Biosecurity will consider all comments received on the draft PRA report and then prepare a final report. DAFF Biosecurity will issue a BA when the final PRA report has been published.
Dr Colin J Grant
First Assistant Secretary
Contact: Kat Smith
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3933
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 4333
Email: Plant Biosecurity