Vegetable biosecurity & quarantine gap analysis Prue McMichael Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd Project Number: VG07087 VG07087 This report is published by Horticulture Australia Ltd to pass on information concerning horticultural research and development undertaken for the vegetable industry. The research contained in this report was funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd with the financial support of the vegetable industry. All expressions of opinion are not to be regarded as expressing the opinion of Horticulture Australia Ltd or any authority of the Australian Government. The Company and the Australian Government accept no responsibility for any of the opinions or the accuracy of the information contained in this report and readers should rely upon their own enquiries in making decisions concerning their own interests. ISBN 0 7341 1849 X Published and distributed by: Horticulture Australia Ltd Level 7 179 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: (02) 8295 2300 Fax: (02) 8295 2399 E-Mail: [email protected] © Copyright 2008 FINAL REPORT Vegetable Biosecurity and Quarantine Gap Analysis VG07087 Prepared for : Horticulture Australia Ltd HAL Project No. VG07087 Prepared by : Prue McMichael Completion Date : September 2008 SCHOLEFIELD ROBINSON HORTICULTURAL SERVICES PTY LTD 118A Glen Osmond Road, Parkside SA 5063 Australia ACN 008 199 737 PO Box 650, Fullarton SA 5063 Ph: (08) 8373 2488 ABN 63 008 199 737 Fax: (08) 8373 2442 Email: [email protected] Web Site: www.srhs.com.au Offices in Adelaide and Mildura Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd HAL Project No. VG 07087 PROJECT LEADER Dr Prue McMichael Senior Consultant/Plant Pathologist Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd PO Box 650 Fullarton SA 5063 PURPOSE OF REPORT This Final Report has been prepared to document information acquired, analysed and considered during the review undertaken for HAL, into all aspects of the biosecurity of Australia’s vegetable industries that are members of AUSVEG. The Final Report includes identification of biosecurity gaps and recommendations for industry, research partners and government authorities who together drive and influence on-farm, regional and national biosecurity. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research has been supported by HAL and levy contributions from AUSVEG. Many HAL, PHA, industry and government members have provided significant time and input to the project and we acknowledge the importance of their insights and contributions. I am particularly grateful for the support and input of Kim James (HAL). I also acknowledge the contributions of my colleagues at Scholefield Robinson who collectively and significantly contributed significantly to this review. Specific thanks to Peter Scholefield, Lauren Thompson, Kate Delaporte, Anne-Marie Broughton and Sarah Kivi. DISCLAIMER Any recommendations contained in this publication do not necessarily represent current HAL Limited policy. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication, whether as to matters of fact or opinion or other content, without first obtaining specific, independent professional advice in respect of the matters set out in this publication. SEPTEMBER 2008 Report : HAL - Vegetable Biosecurity & Quarantine Gap Analysis (Project VG07087), September 2008 Page ii Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd TABLE OF CONTENTS Glossary........................................................................................................................................................5 Media Summary ........................................................................................................................................10 Technical Summary ..................................................................................................................................11 1 General Introduction....................................................................................................................12 2 Australia’s Vegetable Industry ...................................................................................................13 2.1 The Changing Environment in which our Vegetable Industries are Operating ............................................ 13 2.2 Relevant Vegetable Industry Statistics ......................................................................................................... 14 3 Biosecurity and Quarantine.........................................................................................................19 3.1 Background................................................................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Informed General Plant Biosecurity ............................................................................................................. 20 3.3 Informed Biosecurity and Market Access..................................................................................................... 20 3.4 Informed Biosecurity Regulations and Food Safety ..................................................................................... 21 3.5 Nature of Plant Biosecurity Threats.............................................................................................................. 22 3.6 Sources of Plant Biosecurity Threats............................................................................................................ 24 3.7 International Regulatory Responses to Phytosanitary Threats...................................................................... 26 4 The Import Process ......................................................................................................................27 4.1 Import Conditions Database – ICON............................................................................................................ 28 4.2 Import Permits (AQIS) ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.3 Biosecurity Gaps in the Import System ........................................................................................................ 29 5 The Export Process.......................................................................................................................33 5.1 Understanding our International Obligations in Exporting........................................................................... 33 5.2 Relevant ISPMs for Australian Vegetable Exporters.................................................................................... 33 5.3 The Export Process in Australia ................................................................................................................... 34 5.4 The Export Documentation System (EXDOC)............................................................................................. 34 5.5 Phytosanitary Certificates............................................................................................................................. 35 5.6 PHYTO Database ......................................................................................................................................... 35 5.7 Australian Plant Pest Database (APPD) ....................................................................................................... 35 5.8 Phytosanitary Biosecurity and Quarantine Gaps in the Export System ........................................................ 36 5.9 Regulatory Biosecurity Gaps and Impediments in the Export System ......................................................... 40 6 Microbiological Biosecurity Threats: Features & Importance by Commodity Types...........42 6.1 Seed .............................................................................................................................................................. 42 6.2 Fresh Produce ............................................................................................................................................... 46 7 Regulatory Biosecurity Gaps Relevant to Vegetable Crops and their Production Inputs...........53 7.1 Regulatory Measures .................................................................................................................................... 53 7.2 Input Security ............................................................................................................................................... 56 7.3 Public Confidence......................................................................................................................................... 60 8 General Systems in place for the Management of Vegetable Biosecurity.......................................60 8.1 Pre-Border Activities in Biosecurity Management....................................................................................... 63 8.2 Border Activities in Biosecurity Management.............................................................................................. 65 8.3 Post-Border Activities in Biosecurity Management ..................................................................................... 66 Report : HAL - Vegetable Biosecurity & Quarantine Gap Analysis (Project VG07087), September 2008 Page 1 Scholefield Robinson Horticultural Services Pty Ltd 9 Gaps in Current Biosecurity Systems.........................................................................................71 9.1 Surveillance .................................................................................................................................................