12 September 2019
This Biosecurity Advice notifies stakeholders of the release of the Final report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh breadfruit from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
The final report recommends that the importation of fresh breadfruit to Australia from all commercial production areas in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga be permitted, subject to it meeting a range of biosecurity requirements.
The final report takes into account comments received from stakeholders on the draft report released on 4 October 2018.
The department announced the formal commencement of the risk analysis on 15 August 2017 (via Biosecurity Advice 2017/15) and released the draft report for public consultation on 4 October 2018 (Biosecurity Advice 2018/25). Comments from stakeholders on the draft report were taken into consideration in preparing the final report.
This risk analysis was conducted in response to formal market access requests for fresh breadfruit to Australia from Fiji and Samoa. The risk analysis was expanded to cover Tonga, who is also interested in exporting fresh breadfruit to Australia.
The final report identifies seven quarantine pests associated with fresh breadfruit from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga that require risk management measures to reduce the biosecurity risk to an acceptable level. These pests are:
- Fruit flies: fruit fly (Bactrocera facialis), Fijian fruit fly (Bactrocera passiflorae) and Pacific fruit fly (Bactrocera xanthodes).
- Mealybugs: grey pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes), mealybug (Dysmicoccus nesophilus), Pacific mealybug (Planococcus minor) and cryptic mealybug (Pseudococcus cryptus).
The final report recommends risk management measures, combined with an operational system, to manage the biosecurity risks to achieve the appropriate level of protection for Australia. These measures are:
- for fruit flies: high temperature forced air treatment or gamma irradiation treatment
- for mealybugs: pre-export visual inspection and, if found, remedial action.
The final report and more information about this risk analysis are available on the department’s website. Printed copies of the report are available on request.
The department invites stakeholders interested in receiving information and updates on biosecurity risk analyses to subscribe via the department’s online subscription service. By subscribing to Biosecurity Risk Analysis Plant, you will receive Biosecurity Advices and other notifications relating to plant biosecurity policy, including this risk analysis.
Dr Marion Healy
First Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Plant Division
Telephone: 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1)
Email: Imports