Final report for the review of biosecurity import requirements for fresh apple fruit from the Pacific Northwest states of the United States of America

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has completed the risk analysis for the importation of fresh apples from the Pacific Northwest States of the United States of America (PNW-USA), i.e., Washington, Oregon and Idaho, into Australia. The final report recommends a combination of risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the biosecurity risk associated with the importation of apples from the PNW-USA to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection.The final report recommends that the importation of fresh apples from the PNW-USA into Australia be permitted, subject to the application of phytosanitary measures for 20 quarantine pests.These pests are:apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonellatwo species of mites (flat scarlet mite (Cenopalpus pulcher) and McDaniel spider miteTetranychus mcdanielitwo species of thrips (eastern flower thripsFrankliniella tritici) and western flower thripsFrankliniella occidentalistwo species of mealybugs (apple mealybugPhenacoccus aceris) and grape mealybugPseudococcus maritimusseven species of leaf roller or fruit moths (codling mothCydia pomonella), European leafroller (Archips rosana), fruit tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), large fruit tree tortrixArchips podana), oblique-banded leafrollerChoristoneura rosaceana), orange tortrixArgyrotaenia franciscana) and Pandemis leafrollerPandemis pyrusana)), andsix species of fungal pathogens (apple blotchPhyllosticta arbutifolia), Gymnosporangiumrusts (Gymnosporangium clavipes, G. juniperi-virginianae and G.libocedri speck rotPhacidiopycnis washingtonensis) and Sphaeropsis rotSphaeropsis pyriputrescensSpecific commercial production practices, already in place in PNW-USA, are recommended as mandatory to manage the risk of a further three pests: apple leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali), fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) and European canker (Neonectria ditissimaThe draft report for this risk analysis was published on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website on 23 October 2020 for a 90-day stakeholder consultation period and was notified to WTO members (G/SPS/N/AUS/507).The final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website at: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/policy/risk-analysis/plant/apples-usa-2018