G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add. 5 
 
20 June 2019  
(19-4213) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 20 June 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia . 
 
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Final report for the Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports - Part 1  
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture (the department) has completed the risk 
analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports - Part 1. The final report recommends a combination of 
risk management measures and a system of operational procedures that will reduce the risk 
associated with the importation of cut flowers and foliage to a level that achieves Australia's 
appropriate level of protection.  
The final report recommends that the importation of cut flowers and foliage into Australia be 
permitted, s ubject to the application of phytosanitary measures. Phytosanitary measures are required 
for the management of 47 mite species, 21 aphid species and 84 thrips species identified as 
quarantine pests and/or regulated articles.  
The draft report for this risk analysis was published on the department's website on 14 November 
2018 (G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.2). The consultation period was extended until 15 March 2019 
(G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.3).  
The final Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) supports the changes to Australia's import conditions introduced in 
March 2018 (see SPS notifications G/SPS/N/AUS/435 and G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.1). The revised 
conditions require that quarantine risks are appropriately reduced offshore before shipments are sent 
to Australia using an NPPO -approved sys tems approach, methyl bromide fumigation or an alternative 
NPPO -approved pre -shipment treatment. Under the changes, remedial fumigation, export or 
destruction can be applied onshore to address any live quarantine pests found.   
The final PRA also supports further steps being taken by the department to address very high levels 
of non -compliance. From 1 September 2019, countries that are found to have ongoing very high 
levels of non -compliance using a systems approach and with high trade volumes in the period  leading 
up to July 2019 will be required to use alternative pre -export pest management options to send cut 
flowers and foliage to Australia. Alternatively, importers may apply for import permits from 1 July 
2019 to use the systems approach from those coun tries from 1 September 2019.  
If systems are introduced by NPPOs in exporting countries that result in decreased pest interceptions, 
the NPPO may apply to have the system reinstated. Submissions will require a formal evaluation, 
including a possible audit, and the outcome will be decided by the department.  
The department is notifying the countries and their importers likely to be affected by the 1 September 
2019 changes individually.  G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add. 5 
 
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  The final PRA report is available in English on the department's website at  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/plant/cut -flowers . 
Information about the additional steps Australia is undertaking from 1 Septemb er 2019 to address 
high non -compliance with the cut flower import conditions is available on the department's website 
at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cut -flowers . 
This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force  
[ ] Other:  
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified measure 
in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new  deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of originally announced final date for comments, the 
comment period provided in the addendum may vary.)  
[ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification Authority, 
[ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other 
body:  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
 
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