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Determination on panel, scope and timing for mushrooms
Letter as sent to stakeholders on 20 August 1999.
DG38 99/411
Dear Stakeholder
IMPORT RISK ANALYSIS - FRESH CULTIVATED AND WILD COLLECTED MUSHROOMS
The purpose of this letter is to advise you of the outcome of the second round of consultation on the import risk analysis (IRA) concerning fresh edible cultivated and wild collected mushrooms.
In our letter of 24 February 1999 stakeholders were invited to provide written comments on the proposed Risk Analysis Panel (RAP) membership, the scope and the timing of this IRA. The responses received have now been considered by AQIS.
Stakeholders who provided comments did not raise concerns regarding the scope of the IRA. One stakeholder was concerned at the length of time for the IRA to be completed. It was suggested by a small number of stakeholders that the RAP for this IRA should include an independent person with wider private sector experience. One stakeholder also suggested the inclusion of a fungal taxonomy expert.
The Executive Director of AQIS has determined that the panel proposed on 24 February 1999 should be expanded to include Dr Mary Cole who is a Senior Lecturer and the Course Director for Wine Technology and Marketing at Monash University. DR Cole has undertaken teaching and research in mycology. A précis of DR Cole's curriculum vitae is not available electronically. AQIS intends to utilise additional expertise in the mushroom and horticultural industry through Technical Working Groups established by the RAP.
The final panel membership is:
DR Brian Stynes (Chair)
Assistant Director
Plant Quarantine Policy Branch
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Ms Louise van Meurs
Manager, Market Access
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Plant Quarantine Policy Branch
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
DR Kenneth Old
Assistant Chief of Division
CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products
DR J M Cullen
Acting Chief
CSIRO Division of Entomology
DR Mary Cole
Senior Lecturer and Course Director, Wine Technology and Marketing
Monash University
Stakeholders now have 15 days to appeal the Executive Director's determination in relation to the scope, timing, panel membership and approach for this IRA. Appeals should be sent to the Director of Quarantine at the following address by the close of business Monday 6 September 1999:
Mr Ken Matthews
Director of Quarantine
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, all submissions received with respect to the review will be publicly available and be listed or referred to in papers or reports prepared in the review. If a request for anonymity does not accompany a submission, the respondent will be taken to have consented to the disclosure of his or her identity for the purposes of the Privacy Act. The contents of a submission will not be treated as confidential unless they are marked 'confidential' and they are capable of being classified as such in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. The AQIS import risk analysis process, as documented in the AQIS Import Risk Analysis Process Handbook, does not provide for extensions to the formal consultation stages.
If you wish to suggest inclusion of an additional stakeholder in our distribution list for this IRA, or if you wish to be removed from the distribution list, please provide details to the IRA Secretariat at the address on the previous page. Information on all IRAs being conducted by the Plant Quarantine Policy Branch is available on the AQIS Homepage.
AQIS expresses its appreciation to all stakeholders who contributed to this consultation phase.
Yours sincerely
Digby Gascoine
Director
Policy and International Division
20 August 1999