Thursday,19 January 2017
19 January 2017
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for fresh strawberry fruit from the Republic of Korea.
The final report recommends that the import of fresh strawberry fruit into Australia from the Republic of Korea meets Australia’s biosecurity requirements subject to risk management measures.
The final report takes into account submissions and comments received from stakeholders on the draft report released on 25 August 2016.
Biosecurity Advice 2016/09, of 1 April 2016, announced the formal commencement of a non-regulated analysis of existing policy to consider a proposal to import fresh strawberry fruit from the Republic of Korea. Biosecurity Advice 2016/30, of 25 August 2016, announced the release of the draft report for a 60-day stakeholder consultation period.
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for fresh strawberry fruit from the Republic of Korea. Comments from stakeholders on the draft report were taken into consideration in preparing the final report.
The final report identifies five quarantine pests associated with fresh strawberry fruit from the Republic of Korea that require phytosanitary measures. Of these five pests, four are arthropods (a spider mite, two thrips and spotted wing drosophila) and one is a pathogen (angular leaf spot).
Regional differences between Australian states and territories were identified for one quarantine pest for Western Australia (Kanzawa spider mite) and one quarantine pest for the Northern Territory (western flower thrips). The recommended biosecurity measures take account of these regional differences.
The final report recommends a range of risk management measures, combined with a system of operational procedures to ensure biosecurity standards are met. These measures are consistent with long-standing established policy considered to reduce the risk posed by the quarantine pests and achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
Measures include:
- visual inspection and, if detected, remedial action for the spider mite and thrips
- area freedom or fruit treatment (such as methyl bromide fumigation or irradiation) for spotted wing drosophila
- area freedom or a systems approach approved by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for angular leaf spot.
A total of seven submissions on the draft report were received from stakeholders. The department has taken consideration of these comments and a subsequent review of literature and made a number of changes to the risk analysis.
In addition, Appendix B ‘Issues raised in stakeholder comments’, summarising key stakeholder comments and how they were considered in the final report has been added.
The final report and information about the risk analysis process are available from the department’s website.
Printed copies of the draft report are available, upon request.
[signed]
Lois Ransom
A/G First Assistant Secretary
Plant Division
Contact: Biosecurity Liaison Officer
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Email: Biosecurity Consultation
Phone: 1800 068 468