1 November 2018
This Biosecurity Advice announces the commencement of the risk analysis for fresh apple fruit from the Pacific Northwest States (Oregon, Idaho and Washington) of the United States of America (PNW-USA).
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department) expects to release the draft report for public consultation in the first half of 2019.
The commencement of this risk analysis is in response to a formal market access request for fresh apple fruit from the Pacific Northwest States (Oregon, Idaho and Washington) of the United States of America (PNW–USA) in 1999, and a revised submission in 2007.
In 2008, the department commenced a risk analysis for fresh apple fruit from PNW-USA and released a draft report for public consultation in 2009. This risk analysis was commenced as an expanded Import Risk Analysis (IRA) under the Quarantine Regulations 2000.
In 2010, the department ‘stopped the clock’ on the expanded IRA using the provisions under the Quarantine Regulations 2000. This was required to allow the USA time to propose risk management measures for three fruit rots that are associated with apples from the USA.
On 16 June 2016, the Quarantine Act 1908 and Quarantine Regulations 2000 were repealed and replaced by the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act) and Biosecurity Regulation 2016 (the Regulation). As a result, the expanded IRA for fresh apple fruit from PNW-USA has ceased.
The department now undertakes risk analyses in accordance with the Act and the Regulation. If a risk analysis does not meet the criteria for a Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis (BIRA) as set out in the Act and the Regulation, it is conducted as a risk analysis for the purpose of section 174 of the Act (such as a review of biosecurity import requirements).
The department is commencing a new risk analysis for fresh apple fruit from PNW-USA. This new risk analysis will draw on the scientific information compiled in the expanded IRA from 2008 (now ceased), existing policies including apples from China, Japan and New Zealand, and any new scientific information.
A preliminary assessment of pests associated with fresh apple fruit from PNW-USA has identified that the potential pests of biosecurity concern are the same, or of the same pest groups, as those that have been assessed previously by the department. These pests include apple maggot, apple leaf curling midge, fruit/leaf roller moths, mites, thrips, mealybugs, fire blight, European canker and fruit rots.
Given the similarity of pests of biosecurity concern, and that there are appropriate risk management measures already established for these pests or pest groups, this risk analysis does not meet the criteria for a BIRA. Therefore, the risk analysis for fresh apples from PNW-USA will be progressed as a review of biosecurity import requirements for the purpose of section 174 of the Act.
Further information on this risk analysis can be found in the Announcement Information Paper.
The department expects to release a draft report for public consultation during the first half of 2019. Another Biosecurity Advice will be issued to invite comment at that time. The department will consider all stakeholder comments received during the consultation period in preparing the final report.
Stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on plant biosecurity risk analyses are invited to subscribe via the department’s online subscription service.
Dr Marion Healy
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1)
Email: Imports