Table 4.2: Summary of risk assessments for quarantine pests for fresh taro from all countries where pests are present

This chapter provides information on the management of quarantine pests identified with an unrestricted risk exceeding Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP). In estimating the unrestricted risk, existing commercial production practices and minimum border procedures in Australia were taken into consideration. The proposed phytosanitary measures are described below.

1.27Pest risk management measures and phytosanitary procedures

Specific pest risk management measures, including an operational system, are proposed for fresh taro corms from all countries, excluding those countries where the recently reported fungal pathogen Marasmiellus colocasiae occurs, to reduce the restricted risk to a level that achieves Australia’s ALOP.

This pest risk analysis has been conducted on corms of both the large and small corm varieties of taro. Corms of large corm taro are traditionally marketed with a short tuft of petiole bases attached to protect the apical bud and ensure the corms stay physiologically active, which delays the development of storage rots. Corms of small corm taro are cormels (daughter corms) that do not have petiole bases attached at the apical end.

The importation of small corm taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) remains prohibited until further notice. However, countries that are able to demonstrate freedom from taro leaf blight, colocasia bobone disease virus, the French Polynesian strain of Dasheen mosaic virus, Taro vein chlorosis virus and tomato zonate spot virus may apply for access for small corm taro. Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. In such a case, appropriate import conditions will be determined at a later date.

The specific pest risk management measures proposed for fresh taro corms are summarised in Table 5.1.