10 August 2012
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Provisional final import risk analysis report for fresh ginger from Fiji.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) recommends that the import of fresh ginger rhizomes to Australia from Fiji be permitted subject to specific quarantine conditions. The report identifies yam scale and provisionally recognises a suspected new race or pathotype of burrowing nematode as pests requiring quarantine measures.
The provisional final report takes into account comments by stakeholders on a draft report released in April 2012. The report is open for appeal to the independent Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel (IRAAP) until 10 September 2012.
The formal commencement of a regulated import risk analysis to assess Fiji’s market access request for fresh ginger was announced in Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/23 on 13 August 2010. The Draft import risk analysis report for fresh ginger from Fiji was released on 16 April 2012 for a 60 day consultation period.
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Provisional final import risk analysis report for fresh ginger from Fiji. Comments from stakeholders on the draft IRA report were taken into account in preparing the provisional final report.
The provisional final report identifies pests of potential quarantine concern to Australia associated with ginger in Fiji. The yam scale, Aspidiella hartii, has been identified as a quarantine pest requiring measures to manage the risks to a very low level in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. Ginger rhizomes must be subject to phytosanitary inspection to ensure that consignments are free of scales or any other regulated articles.
In addition, a suspected new race or pathotype of the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, has been provisionally accepted as a quarantine pest based on new, but incomplete, information. A systems approach to manage burrowing nematode is recommended. Alternatively, importers may elect to fumigate ginger consignments. Ginger rhizomes must be subject to phytosanitary inspection to ensure that consignments are free of Radopholus similis or any other regulated articles. Consistent with its provisional acceptance, the quarantine status and measures for this pest will be reviewed after one year, or in the event that new information becomes available.
Australia has a system of operational procedures in place to ensure quarantine standards are met. These include: provisions for traceability to enable tracing of consignments to critical points of the pathway; registration of export farms and packing houses; packaging and labelling requirements to ensure material is not contaminated by quarantine pests or other regulated articles; and pre-export phytosanitary certification to document the above provisions. Where quarantine pests or other regulated articles are detected, consignments will be subject to appropriate remedial action.
The IRA is being completed under the regulated process in accordance with the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2011. The release of the provisional final IRA report marks the end of the regulated timeframe for the IRA. The report and information about the risk analysis process are available. Printed copies can be provided if required.
Stakeholders may lodge an appeal in writing to the IRAAP. The panel has advised that any appeals must be received by 10 September 2012. The appeal must outline a claim or claims based on the ground that there was a significant deviation from the regulated IRA process that adversely affected the interests of the stakeholder. Each claim must be supported by a statement of reasons.
The panel has 45 days to consider any appeals and report its findings to Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine and appellants. If there is no appeal, or once any appeals are resolved, the process is complete and policy recommendations will be submitted to the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine for determination.
Written appeals (by email or by post) must be addressed to the IRAAP secretariat, as follows:
Secretariat
Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel
Government Division
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Email: IRAAP
Further details on the appeal process can be found in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2011.
Dr Colin J Grant
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Contact: Kat Smith
Telephone: +61 2 6272 5094
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email: Plant