. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/AUS/153
3 October 2003
(03-5194)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   AUSTRALIA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  Biosecurity Australia, Australian Government Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Fresh Tahitian lime fruit
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
New Caledonia
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Tahitian limes from New
Caledonia, draft import risk analysis (IRA) report, September 2003 (Available in English,
133 pages)
6. Description of content:  This Draft Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Report  contains the
following:
• Information on the background to this IRA;
• an outline of the methodology and results of pest categorisation, risk assessment and
risk management;
• draft quarantine import conditions for fresh Tahitian limes from New Caledonia;
• further steps in the IRA process;  and
• a summary of stakeholder comments received on the Technical Issues Paper and
Biosecurity Australia’s response.
The risk assessment identified fifteen arthropods and one pathogen as requiring risk
management measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
This draft IRA Report concludes that the risks associated with the importation of fresh
Tahitian lime fruit from New Caledonia can be managed by applying a combination of risk
management measures and operational maintenance systems, specifically:
• Systems approach for fruit flies;
• visual inspection for scales/mealybugs and a mite;
• orchard control of Sphaceloma fawcettii (exotic citrus scab isolates);
• registration of export orchards and packinghouses;
• pre-export inspection and phytosanitary certification by Department of Agriculture and
Forestry - New Caledonia;
• packing and labeling compliance;
• security of fruit;G/SPS/N/AUS/153
Page 2
• on-arrival quarantine clearance by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
(AQIS); and
• specific phytosanitary requirements for fruit flies – certified mature green fruit.
Details of these proposed risk management measures, including their objectives, are
provided within the draft IRA report. Details are also provided on how these measures may
be implemented through the draft import conditions.  Biosecurity Australia invitescomments on the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed risk management
measures and import conditions.  In particular, comments are sought on their
appropriateness and any alternatives that stakeholders consider would achieve the
identified objectives.
7. Objective and rationale:  [    ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [   ] protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[ X ] International Plant Protec tion Convention, [   ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:   ISPM 11 has been followed.
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Import Risk Analysis
Handbook 2003 (in English) availabl e from national enquiry point.
10. Proposed date of adoption:   To be determined.
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined.
12. Final date for comments:  Comments are requested by 24 November 2003
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
The Australian SPS Notification Point
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
Fax:  +61 2 6272 3678
E-mail:  sps.contact@affa.gov.au
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority,  [ X ]  National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The documents are also available on the departmental website at www.affa.gov.au/plantcra