Pest Risk Analysis for Stone Fruit from New Zealand into Western Australia

PROPOSAL TO IMPORT STONE FRUIT FROM NEW ZEALAND INTO WESTERN AUSTRALIA

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2 PROPOSAL TO IMPORT STONE FRUIT FROM NEW ZEALAND INTO WESTERN AUSTRALIA

2.1 Background

Importation of stone fruit from the eastern states and New Zealand into Western Australia had been prohibited due to the absence of suitable phytosanitary measures to mitigate the risk posed by the brown rot diseases of stone fruit caused by Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa. In 1999, both Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa were found to be widespread in Western Australia.

Following confirmation of brown rot in Western Australia, the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (NZ MAF) requested access into Western Australia for stone fruit (apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach and plums) in 2000, with cherries being a priority. New Zealand gained access for cherries into Western Australia in January 2003, following a review of import policy conducted by Biosecurity Australia in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

2.2 Administration

2.2.1 Scope

This pest risk analysis presents an assessment of biosecurity risks associated with commercially produced stone fruit (apricot, nectarine, peach and plums) from New Zealand free from regulated articles^¹. The report also proposes, as appropriate, risk management measures.

In the PRA section of this pest risk analysis, Biosecurity Australia has considered the pests associated with stone fruit in New Zealand. The PRA process forms the basis for the development of import policy with respect to the entry of stone fruit into Western Australia from New Zealand.

Stone fruit is produced commercially in New Zealand using the management system developed by Summerfruit New Zealand. This management system includes (a) appropriate field sanitation programs and (b) cultural and chemical control programs. Details of this management system are given in the SummerGreen Manual, which is only available to growers and participants in the SummerGreen^TM Program.

All growers producing stone fruit in New Zealand for export to Western Australia are to comply with SummerGreen^TM program requirements under a compliance agreement.

2.2.2 Biological Control Agents

A range of biological control agents are commonly used in the production of stone fruit in New Zealand. These biological control agents form part of integrated pest management programs and are available commercially to control target pests. Stone fruit imports represent a possible pathway for the entry of biological control agents into Australia. The species not present in Australia are potentially beneficial to various production systems in Australia but they could also pose a risk to the environment.

Biosecurity Australia has included assessments of biological agents associated with stone fruit in New Zealand in this pest risk analysis.

2.2.3 Contaminating pests

In addition to the pests of stone fruit in New Zealand, there are other arthropods that may be carried by the fruit (present on the import pathway). Biosecurity Australia considers these arthropods as contaminating pests, which can pose quarantine risks. These risks are addressed for most contaminating pests by AQIS’s standard inspection procedures.

2.3 Australia’s Current Quarantine Policy for Stone Fruit

The Commonwealth Government is responsible for regulating the movement of plants and plant products into and out of Australia. However, the State and Territory governments are primarily responsible for plant health controls within Australia. Legislation relating to resource management or plant health may be used by State and Territory government agencies to control interstate movement of plants and their products.

2.3.1 International Policy

Fresh stone fruit may be imported into eastern Australia from New Zealand. General import requirements for all fruits and vegetables and specific import conditions for stone fruit from New Zealand to eastern Australia can be found in the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Import Conditions (ICON) database at http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon/.

New Zealand stone fruit can enter eastern Australia either under an AQIS pre-clearance program or with inspection upon arrival. If stone fruit is exported under the AQIS pre-clearance program, inspection for quarantine pests is carried out in New Zealand and no inspection is required on arrival in Australia. Inspection on arrival and remedial action for regulated articles, if detected, is required for New Zealand stone fruit that is not exported under the AQIS pre-clearance program.

2.3.2 Western Australia

The importation of fruit of stone fruit into Western Australia is prohibited under the Plant Diseases Act 1914, due to the historical absence of brown rot (Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa). Western Australia’s previous freedom from brown rot had led to the prohibition into the State, as there was no effective disinfection treatment or other phytosanitary measure for this disease. Brown rot was confirmed in Western Australia in 1999 but the Plant Diseases Regulations 1989 have not been amended to reflect this change in phytosanitary status.

Cherry fruit is permitted entry into Western Australia from South Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand in accordance with the following pest risk assessments:

Categorisation of Pests of Stone Fruit from Eastern Australia - Final State Import Risk Analysis of Cherry Fruit (Prunus avium) from South Australia into Western Australia. (21 September 2001);

Final Policy Extension for the Importation of Cherry Fruit (Prunus avium) from Tasmania into Western Australia (22 December 2003); and

Extension of Existing Policy for Cherry Fruit (Prunus avium) Exported from New Zealand into Western Australia (22 January 2003).

Apricot fruit is permitted entry into Western Australia from South Australia and Tasmania in accordance with the following pest risk assessment:

Final Policy Extension – Fresh Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) Fruit Imported from South Australia and Tasmania into Western Australia (5 October 2004).

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