Growcom welcomes this opportunity to provide feedback to Biosecurity Australia on the draft Import Risk Analysis (IRA) report for fresh capsicum (Paprika) fruit from the Republic of Korea. Growcom is the peak representative body for the fruit and vegetable growing industry in Queensland. This state is the biggest capsicum producing state in Australia.
The draft report recommends that the importation of capsicum to Australia from Republic of Korea be permitted subject to specific quarantine measures. It is our understanding that the proposal recommends that only capsicums from identified glasshouses would be allowed to import capsicum into Australia. If this criterion were to be changed, so would Growcom’s position on the draft IRA.
The key points from Growcom’s submission in relation to the draft IRA for fresh capsicum from Republic of Korea are:
- Australia needs to maintain our relatively pest and disease free status, along with our reputation as a supplier of fresh, high quality, clean produce;
- There are numerous pests and diseases in Korea that are known to pose real threats to the capsicum industry, however many of these are not relevant to a glasshouse producing environment;
- The pest of particular concern is European flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa) as it is currently not present in Australia, and if it did become established, would cause problems for many Australian crops, not only capsicums. As a result, the risks associated with the importation of capsicums from the Republic of Korea are extended beyond the Australian capsicum industry alone;
- As the probability of importing European flower thrips is reported to be high, it is important to consider the impact on other commodities that are potential hosts of European flower thrips to ensure an overall picture of associated implications of the establishment of this pest in Australia is obtained and analysed before making a final decision;
- The impact of exotic pest incursions on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems needs to be considered;
- Appropriate attention must be placed on fumigation and inspection processes to ensure both are completed adequately to protect Australian industries.
1. About Growcom
Growcom is the peak representative body for the fruit and vegetable growing industry in Queensland, providing a range of advocacy, research and industry development services to the sector. We are the only organisation in Australia to deliver services across the entire horticulture industry to businesses and organisations of all commodities, sizes and regions, as well as to associated industries in the supply chain. We are constantly in contact with growers and other horticultural business operators. As a result, we are well aware of the outlook, expectations and practical needs of our industry.
The organisation was established in 1923 as a statutory body to represent and provide services to the fruit and vegetable growing industry. As a voluntary organisation since 2003, Growcom now has grower members throughout the state and works alongside other industry organisations, regional producer associations and corporate members. To provide services and networks to growers, Growcom has approximately fifty staff located in offices in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Ayr, Toowoomba and Tully. Growcom is a member of a number of state and national industry organisations and uses these networks to promote our members’ interests and to work with other industry bodies on issues of common interest.
2. Growcom's Overarching Policy on Biosecurity
The avoidance of pest and disease incursions is of paramount importance to the viability of all rural industries. Australia’s unique biodiversity and relatively pest and disease free status, along with our reputation as a supplier of fresh, high quality, clean produce must be maintained. Freedom from many of the world’s major pests and diseases is a clear advantage in both domestic and global markets.
Industry seeks to maintain a rigorous, science based quarantine system, the elements of which cover a combination of pre-border, border and post border management of quarantine threats with responsibilities shared between governments, industry and the community generally. This includes maintaining high import quarantine standards to protect our horticultural production base as well as the environment and biodiversity.
It must be clear that these systems are developed and operated independently and based on sound scientific principles and analysis to defend the integrity of our environment and production areas, rather than as a barrier to trade. Effective sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls also contribute towards preventing the importation and spread of exotic pests and diseases that lead to crop losses and loss of market access.
Growcom expects government and industry to have a high level of preparedness and capacity to apply to biosecurity measures across the quarantine and biosecurity continuum. Industry has very high expectations of Australia’s quarantine system, and believes that proper consideration should be given to industry’s views as quarantine decisions directly impact on their livelihoods.
This is the basis from which Growcom is providing feedback on the draft IRA for fresh capsicum from the Republic of Korea.
3. About the Queensland Capsicum Industry
Queensland is the main producer of fresh capsicum in Australia, producing more than 80% of Australia’s capsicums. The industry is important to the state’s economy and the regional communities where it is produced (providing employment and local benefits). In the 2007-08 financial year, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries estimated the Queensland capsicum industry to be worth $100 million.
In Queensland, capsicums are grown all year round. The main production areas are around Bowen (April to early November) and Bundaberg (April to July and November to early January). The Lockyer Valley (November to May) and Granite Belt (January to April) supply small quantities through summer and early autumn.
Most Queensland capsicums are sold as fresh product with a small number being processed. The main markets are Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. In 2002-03, 2% of Australia’s capsicum production was exported, with the majority going to New Zealand followed by south-east Asia and Pacific Islands.
4. Growcom Feedback in Relation to Draft IRA
There are numerous pests and diseases in Korea that are known to pose real threats to the capsicum industry. Many of these are currently not established in Australia.
However, most of these pests and diseases, especially caterpillars, are irrelevant to the growing system from which the capsicums for export to Australia are proposed to be drawn (ie. glasshouses). It is important to note that if the scope of proposed sources for exported capsicum from the Republic of Korea were to be extended beyond the glasshouses listed in the draft IRA, the position of Growcom and the Queensland capsicum industry would change considerably and further consultation by Biosecurity Australia would be essential.
The IRA has identified three thrips species that present possible threats to Australia. These are:
- European flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa);
- Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis); and
- Melon thrips (Thrips palmi).
It is our understanding that the above insects are among the relatively few pest species that can thrive in protected growing enclosures. However, as the draft IRA highlights, the probability of importation, establishment and spread of these pests in Australia is high.
European flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa)
Of particular concern to Growcom is European flower thrips. This pest is currently not present in Australia, and if it did become established, it would cause problems for many Australian crops, not only capsicums. As a result, the risks associated with the importation of capsicums from the Republic of Korea are extended beyond the Australian capsicum industry alone.
As the draft IRA is focused on the capsicum industry, other potential host commodities of European flower thrips are unlikely to have seen and therefore had the chance to review the draft IRA and determine the potential impacts on their industries. As a result, Biosecurity Australia is unlikely to obtain a comprehensive picture of the likely impacts of the establishment of European flower thrips on industries other than capsicums through the current consultation process. The impact on other commodities that are potential hosts of European flower thrips is essential to obtain an overview of the potential implications of the establishment of this pest in Australia before making a final decision.
One of the potential hosts of European flower thrips listed in the draft IRA is strawberries. An issue of importance associated with this industry in addition to capsicums is maintaining the integrity of the biologically based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system that has been developed over many years. In section ‘4.2.5 Consequences’, for this assessment and for future Pest Risk Assessments (PRAs), it should be noted that the introduction of a new pest species, especially thrips, may have disastrous consequences for established IPM systems in certain crops. This is because thrips are not well controlled by natural enemies, as has been acknowledged in the PRA, and growers may need to resort to the use of chemical sprays to maintain control. If this became necessary for Queensland strawberries for instance, then the biological mite management system that is widely used would be compromised, as most currently used thrips sprays are toxic to predatory mites, especially Phytoseiulus persimilis. It should be noted that the strawberry industries in other states have difficulty implementing biological mite control because of the need to spray frequently to control western flower thrips. The impact on successful IPM systems by the arrival of exotic pests is not given sufficient consideration in many PRAs.
When Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) became established in Australia it caused significant damage to crops. This included strawberries in southern states, however did not have a large impact in Queensland. This is considered unusual, as the pest is established in Queensland, however, while it causes much damage to many vegetable and some tree crops, it currently does not cause much damage to commercial strawberry crops. This may be a case of seasonal escape, as Queensland strawberries are grown during winter. Although there are also a lot of strawberries still producing in September and October when temperatures are more than satisfactory for the multiplication of this species, and even then problems are not encountered. This demonstrates that certain climatic/crop relationships do not necessarily favour a species, even though its origins and invasion form suggest they should. Therefore, it is not always possible to predict behaviour and success of an exotic species in a new niche. So, while Western flower thrips has not been able to utilise the Queensland spring strawberry niche, European flower thrips might.
Inspection procedures
The phytosanitary and inspection procedures set out in the draft IRA are appropriate for these types of pests and if conducted correctly by trained personnel, adequate quarantine protection is assured.
However, appropriate attention must be placed on fumigation and inspection processes to ensure both are completed adequately to protect Australian industries. To demonstrate the importance of this, Growcom will highlight the example of inspection processes around Western flower thrips. In 1988, on two separate occasions, live Frankliniella occidentalis (Western flower thrips) individuals were found under the calyxes of strawberry fruit imported from California. This fruit was supposed to have been fumigated with methyl bromide, which would have eliminated these individuals. This species was discovered to have established in Australia five years later, though the source of the initial immigrants was never ascertained. Although other sources were suggested, the timeframe is about right for the Californian strawberries to have been the source. Australian industries still suffer the consequences.
Additional points
Further points that Growcom would like to raise include:
- Thrips are known virus carriers therefore the associated biosecurity threats are greater than just the thrips themselves. It is essential that attention is given to not only the thrips but the potential viruses they may carry;
- The draft IRA needs to consider the fact that the volume of imports over time leads to increased risk;
- Since procedures are apparently already in place to manage the movement of Western flower thrips and melon thrips’ susceptible produce to the relevant un-infested Australian regional areas, an extension of these to accommodate imported capsicums is appropriate.
Disclaimer: The department received this submission in hardcopy only, which has been converted into an accessible format to meet Australian Government accessibility requirements. While due care was taken to ensure the information was reproduced accurately, the PDF should be considered the original document for official purposes.