Final group pest risk analysis for thrips and orthotospoviruses on fresh fruit, vegetable, cut-flower and foliage imports

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources released the Final group pest risk analysis for thrips and orthotospoviruses on fresh fruit, vegetable, cut-flower and foliage imports on 30 November 2017. Note that in the time since the draft report for this group pest risk analysis was notified, the virus name Tospovirus underwent taxonomic revision and was renamed Orthotospovirus. The final report concluded that a number of thrips and orthotospovirus are quarantine pests for Australia. The report also recommends that the regulatory status of three thrips species—Frankliniella schultzei, Scirtothrips dorsalis and Thrips tabaci—be changed from non-regulated to regulated because these thrips can carry and transmit quarantine orthotospoviruses. This change is not expected to significantly affect trade. Imported commodities will be regulated if they are infested with quarantine pest thrips or thrips vectors that transmit quarantine orthotospoviruses.The draft report for this risk analysis was notified (G/SPS/N/AUS/409) on 15 December 2016. The report was released for an extended 90 day stakeholder consultation period.The final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website at:http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/memos/ba2017-26