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Release of addendum to the Revised Draft Import Risk Analysis Report for Bananas from the Philippines
DAFF04/11D
Biosecurity Australia has issued an addendum to the Revised Draft Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Report relating to proposed imports of bananas from the Philippines. Biosecurity Australia is committed to protecting the favourable health status of Australia’s agricultural industries from exotic pests and diseases.
The addendum sets out strengthened quarantine measures for the importation of bananas from the Philippines. Specific changes proposed in the addendum are the application of a more stringent ‘area of low pest prevalence’ regime for Moko, addition of an insecticidal treatment for mealybugs, and the inclusion of quarantine conditions for banana bract mosaic virus.
Overall, key quarantine measures proposed for Philippines bananas in the draft import conditions include:
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for Moko, freckle and banana bract mosaic virus — sourcing bananas only from Australian-approved plantations which can demonstrate an acceptably low prevalence for these diseases, ie below a level set by Australia (area of low pest prevalence)
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sourcing bananas only from plants that have been inspected weekly and found free from specific disease symptoms
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all bananas must undergo a combination of washing and insecticide treatment in packing stations to reduce the risk of mealybugs to a very low level
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additional rigorous measures relating to packing materials, packing and transport procedures to reduce the risk of contaminants such as leaf trash, weed seeds and frogs
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inspection of fruit, both pre-export and on-arrival in Australia.
These measures are in addition to the standard risk management practices that the Philippines proposed to use to produce, process, pack and transport bananas to Australia.
All seven members of the IRA team support release of the addendum for stakeholder comment. The revised draft IRA report and its addendum are fully endorsed by six of the seven members of the expert panel. A letter from them is attached to the addendum. One member of the panel holds a different view on some matters. His letter and documents setting out his minority views are also attached to the addendum.
Stakeholders now have until 16 August 2004 (60 days) to comment on the revised draft IRA report and the addendum. Any submissions received, and any new information that may come to hand, will be considered by the panel of experts when it proceeds with the next step of preparing the final IRA report.
The import risk analyses conducted by Biosecurity Australia draw on some of Australia’s foremost scientific and technical expertise in the field of animal and plant health to protect the health of Australia’s agricultural industries and natural environment from exotic pests and diseases. This involves rigorously assessing all available scientific evidence and developing quarantine conditions designed to ensure that Australia’s favourable animal and plant health status is maintained.
The addendum and the revised draft IRA report is available on the Biosecurity Australia web site at www.daff.gov.au/biosecurityaustralia A fact sheet is attached
Media contact:
Biosecurity Australia: Marisa Gerussi (02) 6272 3658 or John Wilson (02) 6272 3811