Review of import conditions for fresh taro corms
Download 1.87 Mb.
|
Draft review of import conditions for fresh taro corms 
March 2011 © Commonwealth of Australia 2011
Cite this report as: Biosecurity Australia (2011) Draft review of import conditions for fresh taro corms. Biosecurity Australia, Canberra. www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au Disclaimer: The Australian Government acting through Biosecurity Australia has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information in this publication. Notwithstanding, Biosecurity Australia, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability to the maximum extent permitted by law, including liability for negligence, for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of the information in this publication. Cover image: Taro (Colocasia esculenta) corms imported from Fiji. Photographed by Biosecurity Australia officer, Sydney, October 2010. Submissions This draft review of import conditions has been issued to give all interested parties an opportunity to comment and draw attention to any scientific, technical, or other gaps in the data, misinterpretations and errors. Any comments should be submitted to Biosecurity Australia within the comment period stated in the related Biosecurity Australia Advice on the Biosecurity Australia website. The draft report will then be revised as necessary to take account of the comments received and a final report will be released at a later date. Comments on the draft report should be submitted to: Office of the Chief Executive Biosecurity Australia GPO Box 858 CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA
Facsimile: +61 2 6272 5245 Email: plant@biosecurity.gov.au
Contents Contents v Tables vii Figures vii Acronyms and abbreviations ix Abbreviations of units ix Summary xi Introduction 1 1.1 Australia’s biosecurity policy framework 1 1.2 This import risk analysis 1 Method for pest risk analysis 5 2.1 Stage 1: Initiation 5 2.2 Stage 2: Pest risk assessment 6 Probability of entry 6 Probability of establishment 7 Probability of spread 8 2.3 Stage 3: Pest risk management 12 Commercial taro production and trade 15 1.3 Assumptions used to estimate unrestricted risk 15 1.4 Taro cultivation practices 15 1.5 The global taro industry 16 Pest risk assessments for quarantine pests 19 1.6 Quarantine pests for pest risk assessment 19 1.7 Fiji ginger weevil 21 1.8 Taro beetles 25 1.9 Taro planthopper 29 1.10 Paraputo mealybugs 33 1.11 Taro root aphid 36 1.12 Spiral nematodes 39 1.13 Taro root nematode 43 1.14 Needle nematode 47 1.15 Bacterial blight of taro 51 1.16 Corallomycetella root rot 55 1.17 Black root rot 59 1.18 Taro leaf blight 62 1.19 Taro pocket rot 67 Pythium corm rot 71 1.20 Colocasia bobone disease 75 1.21 Dasheen mosaic 79 1.22 Taro reovirus 84 1.23 Taro vein chlorosis 88 1.24 Tomato zonate spot 92 Pest risk assessment conclusion 96 Pest risk management 99 1.25 Pest risk management measures and phytosanitary procedures 99 Remedial action for non-compliance – on-arrival verification 103 1.26 Review of policy 103 Conclusion 105 Appendix A: Initiation and pest categorisation for pests of taro 109 Appendix B: Additional data for quarantine pests 149 Appendix C: Biosecurity framework 159 Appendix D: History and classification of taro 165 History of taro cultivation 165 Classification of taro 166 Taro weed potential 173 Glossary 175 References 179 Tables Figures Figure 1 Map of Australia viii Figure 2 A guide to Australia’s climate zones viii Figure D.1: A typical dasheen type large corm taro 169 Figure D.2: A typical eddoe type small corm taro 170 Figure 1 Map of Australia 
Figure 2 A guide to Australia’s climate zones 
Acronyms and abbreviations
Abbreviations of units
Summary Biosecurity Australia is assessing the quarantine risks associated with the importation of fresh taro (Colocasia esculenta) corms from all countries. This draft report proposes that fresh corms be permitted import into Australia, subject to specific pest risk management measures. Five quarantine pests have been identified as requiring additional quarantine measures to manage risks to a very low level in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. The pests are taro planthopper (Tarophagus proserpina), taro leaf blight (Phytophthora colocasiae), Colocasia bobone disease virus, Taro vein chlorosis virus and Tomato zonate spot virus. The proposed quarantine measures include:
Alternative measures to the requirement to demonstrate area freedom from taro leaf blight will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The emergency quarantine measures adopted in 2006, which prohibit small corm taro from being imported into Australia, will remain in place. This draft report proposes that countries that are able to demonstrate freedom from taro leaf blight, Colocasia bobone disease virus, Taro vein chlorosis virus and Tomato zonate spot virus will be able to apply for access for small corm taro. Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This draft report provides risk assessments for the quarantine pests of taro and proposed quarantine measures to allow interested parties to provide comments and submissions to Biosecurity Australia within the consultation period of 60 days. All submissions received on the draft report will be carefully considered by Biosecurity Australia in finalising the review of import conditions. Biosecurity Australia will then recommend pest risk management measures to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Introduction 1.1Australia’s biosecurity policy framework Australia’s biosecurity policies aim to protect Australia against the risks that may arise from exotic pests1 entering, establishing and spreading in Australia, thereby threatening Australia’s unique flora and fauna, as well as those agricultural industries that are relatively free from serious pests. The pest risk analysis (PRA) process is an important part of Australia’s biosecurity policies. It enables the Australian Government to formally consider the risks that could be associated with proposals to import new products into Australia. If the risks are found to exceed Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP), risk management measures are proposed to reduce the risks to an acceptable level. However, if it is not possible to reduce the risks to an acceptable level, then no trade will be allowed. Successive Australian Governments have maintained a conservative, but not a zero-risk, approach to the management of biosecurity risks. This approach is expressed in terms of Australia’s ALOP, which reflects community expectations through government policy and is currently described as providing a high level of protection aimed at reducing risk to a very low level, but not to zero. Australia’s PRAs are undertaken by Biosecurity Australia using teams of technical and scientific experts in relevant fields, and involve consultation with stakeholders at various stages during the process. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is responsible for implementing appropriate risk management measures. More information about Australia’s biosecurity framework is provided in Appendix C of this report and in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook 2007 located on the Biosecurity Australia website www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au. 1.2This import risk analysis 1.2.1Background Quarantine policy for the importation of fresh taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.) corms into Australia for human consumption has been in place for many years. In June 2003, following a review of the existing import conditions for taro corms, Biosecurity Australia advised AQIS that taro corms should continue to meet the general conditions for fruit and vegetables, as well as being topped and free of leaf material. In June 2005, Taro Growers Australia wrote to AQIS expressing concerns about the import conditions for fresh taro corms and claimed that its members had seen imported taro corms in breach of these conditions. Further correspondence between Taro Growers Australia and Biosecurity Australia in 2006 discussed the quarantine risk from imports of corms of the small corm taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) that propagate easily from multiple growing points, even after the removal of the apical growing point. In response to the concerns that corms of the small corm taro can be readily propagated, Biosecurity Australia advised AQIS in May 2006 that small corm taro should no longer be permitted entry, and this advice was applied from 23 May 2006. From 7 July 2006, phytosanitary certificates were required to carry an additional declaration that the consignment was not Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum. A notification (G/SPS/N/AUS/199: 06/3352) of the emergency measure to halt imports of Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum to Australia was made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 11 July 2006. Subsequently, Taro Growers Australia argued that even topped large corm taro could be propagated, and claimed that small corm taro was being imported labelled as the large corm variety. In November 2006, Biosecurity Australia recommended to AQIS that size and morphological criteria be adopted and used by inspectors to distinguish the two varieties. These criteria were adopted on 1 December 2006, and notification (G/SPS/N/AUS/199/Rev.1: 06/5810) of the modification to the emergency measure was made to the WTO on 4 December 2006. To meet its obligations under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), Australia is required to investigate the phytosanitary situation where emergency actions are taken to determine whether the actions are justified, in accordance with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). This review was initiated in response to stakeholder concerns and the subsequent adoption of emergency measures.
This review of import conditions assesses the biosecurity risks associated with the importation of fresh taro corms from all countries for human consumption. It considers both the large and small corm varieties. In the PRA section of this report, Biosecurity Australia has considered the pests associated with taro corms. The assessment of unrestricted risk is based on the importation of commercially produced taro corms from all countries into Australia as described in Section 3. In addition to fresh taro corms, there is a small market in Australia for fresh taro leaves, used in traditional cooking practices. Consideration of this commodity is outside the scope of this review. 1.2.3Existing policy Prior to the introduction of emergency measures in 2006 prohibiting the importation of small corm taro, Australia permitted the importation of fresh corms of Colocasia esculenta (including var. antiquorum) for human consumption from all countries, subject to specific import conditions. These import conditions included:
Following the prohibition of small corm taro imports in 2006, a further condition was added to require that imported corms meet specific morphological criteria to ensure corms of Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum do not gain entry (AQIS 2011). Specifically the corms must:
These conditions can be viewed on the AQIS Import Conditions (ICON) database available at http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon. 1.2.4Contaminating pests In addition to the pests of taro identified in this pest risk analysis, there are other organisms that may arrive with the corms. These organisms could include weed seeds, pests of other crops, or predators and parasitoids of other arthropods. Biosecurity Australia considers these arthropods as contaminating pests that could pose sanitary and phytosanitary risks. These risks are addressed by existing AQIS standard operational procedures. 1.2.5Next steps This draft report gives stakeholders the opportunity to comment and draw attention to any scientific, technical or other gaps in the data, misinterpretations and errors. Biosecurity Australia will consider submissions received on the report and may consult informally with stakeholders. Biosecurity Australia will finalise the review of import conditions and advise AQIS on recommended pest risk management measures.
This section sets out the method used for the pest risk analysis (PRA) in this report. Biosecurity Australia has conducted this PRA in accordance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), including ISPM 2: Framework for pest risk analysis (FAO 2007) and ISPM 11: Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests, including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms (FAO 2004). A PRA is ‘the process of evaluating biological or other scientific and economic evidence to determine whether a pest should be regulated and the strength of any phytosanitary measures to be taken against it’ (FAO 2010). A pest is ‘any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products’ (FAO2010). Quarantine risk consists of two major components: the probability of a pest entering, establishing and spreading in Australia from imports, and the consequences should this happen. These two components are combined to give an overall estimate of the risk. Unrestricted risk is estimated taking into account the existing commercial production practices of the exporting country and that, on arrival in Australia, AQIS will verify that the consignment received is as described on the commercial documents and its integrity has been maintained. Restricted risk is estimated with phytosanitary measure(s) applied. A phytosanitary measure is ‘any legislation, regulation or official procedure having the purpose to prevent the introduction and spread of quarantine pests, or to limit the economic impact of regulated non-quarantine pests’ (FAO 2010). A glossary of the terms used is provided at the back of this report. The PRA was conducted in the following three consecutive stages. 2.1 Stage 1: Initiation Initiation identifies the pest(s) and pathway(s) that are of quarantine concern and should be considered for risk analysis in relation to the identified PRA area. The initiation point for this PRA was the adoption of emergency measures prohibiting imports of small corm taro (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) in 2006. This followed concerns that small corm taro was unaffected by topping and could be propagated. Having adopted emergency measures, Australia is obliged under the SPS Agreement to undertake a scientific review of the risks and phytosanitary measures (Article 5, Clause 7) in accordance with ISPM 13 (FAO 2001a). This review was undertaken to meet this requirement. The pests associated with taro plants and corms were tabulated from literature and database searches. This information is set out in Appendix A. The species name is used in most instances but a lower taxonomic level is used where appropriate. Synonyms are provided where the cited literature uses a different scientific name. For this PRA, the ‘PRA area’ is defined as Australia for pests that are absent, or of limited distribution and under official control. For areas with regional freedom from a pest, the ‘PRA area’ may be defined on the basis of a state or territory of Australia or may be defined as a region of Australia consisting of parts of a state or territory or several states or territories 2.2 Stage 2: Pest risk assessment A pest risk assessment (for quarantine pests) is: ‘the evaluation of the probability of the introduction and spread of a pest and of the likelihood of associated potential economic consequences’ (FAO 2010). In this PRA, pest risk assessment was divided into the following interrelated processes: 2.2.1 Pest categorisation Pest categorisation identifies which of the pests with the potential to be on the commodity are quarantine pests for Australia and require pest risk assessment. A ‘quarantine pest’ is a pest of potential economic importance to the area endangered thereby and not yet present there, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled, as defined in ISPM 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms (FAO 2010). The pests identified in Stage 1 were categorised using the following primary elements to identify the quarantine pests for the commodity being assessed:
The results of pest categorisation are set out in Appendix A. The quarantine pests identified during pest categorisation were carried forward for pest risk assessment and are listed in Table 4.1. 2.2.2 Assessment of the probability of entry, establishment and spread Details of how to assess the ‘probability of entry’, ‘probability of establishment’ and ‘probability of spread’ of a pest are given in ISPM 11 (FAO 2004). A summary of this process is given below, followed by a description of the qualitative methodology used in this PRA. Directory: SiteCollectionDocuments SiteCollectionDocuments -> Emerging Transport Technologies SiteCollectionDocuments -> Lesson Plan What are smart goals? SiteCollectionDocuments -> Melbourne Library Service Policy Public Access Internet and Computer Use Policy SiteCollectionDocuments -> Navy Drug Screening Laboratory Jacksonville SiteCollectionDocuments -> Building Management Systems (bms) Seminar 2 Advanced Management and Improvement Opportunities SiteCollectionDocuments -> Commitments and Pledges for Training and Capacity Building 2014-15 SiteCollectionDocuments -> Galileo® and Apollo® Systems – Airline Participants SiteCollectionDocuments -> Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy 25 years of protecting Australia SiteCollectionDocuments -> Final pest risk analysis report for Drosophila suzukii April 2013 SiteCollectionDocuments -> Permitted Seeds List – 16 June 2016 Download 1.87 Mb. Share with your friends:
|