Revised draft import risk analysis report for bananas from the Philippines

1 March 2007

BA07/01

Biosecurity Australia today issued a revised draft import risk analysis (IRA) report assessing an application from the Philippines to export bananas to Australia.

The report is not a decision to allow the importation of bananas, but a draft report to allow stakeholders to provide comments.

The draft report identifies seven pests and diseases of concern, notably Moko and Black Sigatoka, as well as a number of other pests not present in Western Australia that are present in eastern Australia. The proposed quarantine measures contained in the draft report include:

• potential exports only from areas that demonstrate low pest prevalence
• registration of export blocks
• inspections to detect the presence of any diseases
• ongoing inspections of blocks and fruit, including by AQIS inspectors
• disinfection and fungicide spraying
• mandatory pre-clearance arrangements with the presence and involvement of AQIS inspectors in the Philippines in applying quarantine conditions in the field, including in packing houses
• tight auditing and verification by AQIS of systems and processes used by the Philippines to certify any exports
• combinations of measures for specific pests to be used in an integrated system, recognising that no single measure is considered sufficient to manage each of the risks
• detailed data and documentation to be provided by the Philippines for consideration by Australia prior to any exports to verify and validate quarantine measures to be implemented by the Philippines.

Biosecurity Australia has provided a 90-day extended comment period to 30 May 2007 to give stakeholders sufficient time to absorb and comment on the very substantial and detailed material contained in the 530-page, three-volume report.

A minority view from a member of the expert team undertaking the analysis has been included in the draft report concerning the proposed risk management measures for Moko. This has been included to ensure full transparency and allow comment by all stakeholders on all relevant issues.

Biosecurity Australia will take all submissions into account in preparing a further report, which an Eminent Scientists Group, independent of Biosecurity Australia, will review to ensure stakeholders’ comments have been properly considered.

After allowing for an appeal process, a final report and recommendations will be provided to Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine to consider the determination of a quarantine policy.

The draft IRA report on bananas from the Philippines is available at www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au.

Australia takes a conservative approach to quarantine generally and therefore manages quarantine risks to a very low level. Biosecurity Australia undertakes science-based risk analyses to assess any quarantine risks associated with applications to import agricultural and other commodities to Australia.  These analyses are an important part of keeping Australia free from exotic pests and diseases.

Measures for individual diseases and pests

The main pests and diseases of quarantine concern are Moko, Black Sigatoka, Freckle and Mealybugs and Armoured scales, Spider mites, and Banana rust thrips.

The report concludes that no individual measure will manage the risks effectively, therefore Biosecurity Australia proposes that a combination of measures be applied as an integrated system.

Moko: 

• registration of export blocks
• weekly plantation inspection for the presence of Moko (incidence must be less than one plant in 16 hectares)
• inspection of cut stems, bunches and clusters, in the field and at pack houses, for vascular discolouration
• chlorine disinfection in floatation tanks to minimise cross-contamination.

Black Sigatoka: 

• registration of export blocks
• plantation inspection (visible symptoms not to exceed one per cent of leaf area)
• procedures to minimise trash in plantations
• disinfection in flotation tanks to minimise cross-contamination.
  

Freckle: 

• registration of export blocks
• plantation inspection (verify low incidence of freckle)
• fungicide spraying of bunches (according to an approved schedule).

Insect pests – mealybugs, armoured scales, spider mites and banana rust thrips: 

• inspection, followed by treatment or withdrawal of the lot if any pests are detected.

Media contact:    John Wilson        Biosecurity Australia    02 6272 3811