31 March 2016
This is a Biosecurity Advice to notify stakeholders that the proposed conditions for the import of poppy (Papaver somniferum) straw and pellets for processing in Australia from Turkey, Hungary and Portugal have been developed. These conditions are being issued for 30 days consultation. Written comments and submissions are invited by 30 April 2016.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has issued the proposed conditions for the import of poppy straw and pellets from Turkey, Hungary and Portugal for processing in Australia. In support of the request for consideration of an import permit, the proponent has provided submissions detailing in part the field management, harvesting and storage information for the intended commodity, along with other relevant information.
Two weevils (Ethelcus denticulatus and Neoglocianus maculaalba) and storage pests (Liposcelis spp. and Trogoderma spp.) have been identified as pests of biosecurity concern. Operational procedures and risk management measures are proposed to ensure biosecurity standards are met and achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP). These include certification for freedom from storage pests, inspection on arrival and treatment for any identified pests or diseases with fumigation, heat treatment or irradiation as appropriate.
The proposed phytosanitary measures address the risk of introducing plant quarantine pests associated with Papaver somniferum straw and pellets into Australia. It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the requirements of any other regulatory or advisory bodies prior to and after importation of this commodity. Among others, these could include the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Office of Drug Control (Department of Health), Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, Department of the Environment and state departments of agriculture.
Stakeholders have up to 30 days to submit written comments on these proposed conditions. Comments must be submitted by 30 April 2016.
Please pass this notice to other interested parties. If those parties wish to be included in future communications on this matter they should contact Plant Biosecurity.
Dr Marion Healy
First Assistant Secretary
Plant Division
Contact: David Heinrich
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3220
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email:
Plant Biosecurity
Lodging a submission
There is no specific format for a submission, but they must be in writing, and identify the relevant technical biosecurity issues being raised with supporting evidence. Preferably, submissions should be in Microsoft Word or other text-based formats and lodged electronically via email, but postal submissions are acceptable. Submissions should be received by the department within the stated comment period and addressed to:
Plant Biosecurity
Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: +61 2 6272 5094
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 3307
Email:
Plant Biosecurity
Privacy
Personal information collected by the department will only be used to enable the department to contact you about your submission and may be disclosed to specialists, another Commonwealth government agency, a State or Territory government agency or foreign government department, provided the disclosure is consistent with relevant laws, in particular the Privacy Act 1988.
The department requests that, as a minimum, you provide your name and contact details with your submission. Please indicate if you do not wish to have personal information published with your submission or disclosed to third parties. Collected personal information will be used and stored consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles as outlined in the department’s Privacy Policy available on the department’s website.
Confidentiality
Subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, content of submissions may be made public, unless you state you want all or part of your submission to be treated as confidential. A claim for confidentiality must be justified and provided as an attachment, marked ‘Confidential’. ‘Confidential’ material will not be made public. The department reserves the right not to publish submissions.
No breach of confidence will occur if the department shares your submission with a third party referred to under ‘Privacy’ in seeking advice in response to your submission.
Intellectual property
Responsibility for compliance with Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in submissions rests with the author(s). In lodging a submission, you warrant you have not knowingly infringed any third party IPR. By lodging a submission, you grant the Commonwealth a permanent, irrevocable, royalty-free, world-wide, non-exclusive licence to use, copy, reproduce, adapt, communicate and exploit all or any of the material contained in the submission.