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The
draft report of the pest risk analysis and the confirmed measures to achieve
Australia's appropriate level of protection for the import of fresh cut
flowers and foliage from all countries was released on 14 November 2018.
The
analysis of interception data undertaken as part of the pest risk analysis
indicates a high detection rate of invertebrate pests on imported cut flowers
and foliage including thrips, aphids and mites. Of particular concern is
the high number and frequency of thrips detected as many of these are
quarantine pests for Australia. Thrips are the primary vectors of
orthotospoviruses, many of which are also quarantine pests for Australia. The
ongoing high number of live pests detected on imported cut flowers at the
border poses a level of phytosanitary risk that exceeds Australia's
appropriate level of protection.
New
biosecurity import conditions for imported fresh cut flowers and foliage were
implemented on 1 March 2018 (see SPS notifications G/SPS/N/AUS/435 and
G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.1). The draft report confirms that these changes are
necessary to protect Australia's plant producers and the natural environment
from exotic pests.
The
risk analysis is being conducted in two parts: (i) an assessment of the three
major arthropod pest groups - thrips, aphids and mites; and (ii) an
assessment of other arthropod pests.
Part 1 of the
draft report includes:
Summary
Introduction Commercial trade and production Cut flower and foliage pathway
Previous import policies and principles Changing patterns of activity and
risk Pest risk assessment Pest risk management Conclusion
Part
2 will include a number of other arthropod pests that are national priority
plant pests for Australia, or which are capable of transmitting a national
priority plant pest.
Notification
of the release of the draft report is provided in Biosecurity Advice 2018/30.
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