Final report for the Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports - Part 2

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has completed the Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports - Part 2. The final report recommends a combination of risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the risk associated with the importation of cut flowers and foliage to a level that achieves Australia's appropriate level of protection.

The Pest Risk Analysis (Part 2) completes the assessment of arthropod pests associated with imported cut flowers and foliage. Part 1 of the PRA, published on 21 June 2019 and notified in G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.5, assessed the mites (Arachnida: Acari), aphids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) and thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Part 2 of the PRA assesses the risk associated with the beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera), flies (Insecta: Diptera), bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera (other than aphids)), wasps, bees and ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera) and moths and butterflies (Insecta: Lepidoptera).

The final report recommends that the importation of cut flowers and foliage into Australia be permitted, subject to the application of phytosanitary measures. Phytosanitary measures are required for the management of 438 species of arthropod pests that are of biosecurity concern for Australia. This includes 74 species of beetles, 38 species of flies, 140 species of bugs (other than aphids), 13 species of wasps and 110 species of moths and butterflies identified as quarantine pests. Six species of beetles and 10 species of bugs (other than aphids) are of biosecurity concern for Australia because they have the potential to transmit pathogens that are quarantine pests and an additional 47 pests are identified contaminants.

The draft report for this risk analysis was published on the department's website on 22 May 2020 for 90 calendar day public consultation period, closing on 20 August 2020 (G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.6).

The final Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) supports the changes to Australia's import conditions introduced in March 2018 (see SPS notifications G/SPS/N/AUS/435 and G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.1). The revised conditions require that quarantine risks are appropriately reduced offshore before shipments are sent to Australia using an NPPO-approved systems approach, methyl bromide fumigation or an alternative NPPO-approved pre-shipment treatment. Under the changes, remedial fumigation, export or destruction can be applied onshore to address any live quarantine pests found.

The final PRA also supports further steps being taken by the department to address situations of emerging risk. Where the department detects and identifies pests that indicate either a changing risk or ongoing consignment non-compliance the department reserves the right to remove access to pest risk management options that are not managing pest risks and/or employ additional regulatory measures.The final PRA report is available in English on the department's website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/cut-flowers