G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.2  
 
16 November 2018  
(18-7212) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 14 November 2018 , is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Australia . 
 
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Release of the draft report for the Pest Risk Analysis for Cut Flower and Foliage Imports - Part 1  
The draft report of the pest risk analysis and the confirmed measures to achieve Australia's 
appropriate level of protection for the import of fresh cut flowers and foliage from all countries was 
released on 14 November 2018.  
The analysis  of interception data undertaken as part of the pest risk analysis indicates a high detection 
rate of invertebrate pests on imported cut flowers and foliage including thrips, aphids and mites. 
Of particular concern is the high number and frequency of thrip s detected as many of these are 
quarantine pests for Australia. Thrips are the primary vectors of orthotospoviruses, many of which 
are also quarantine pests for Australia. The ongoing high number of live pests detected on imported 
cut flowers at the border  poses a level of phytosanitary risk that exceeds Australia's appropriate level 
of protection.  
New biosecurity import conditions for imported fresh cut flowers and foliage were implemented on 
1 March 2018 (see SPS notification s G/SPS/N/AUS/435 and G/SPS/N/ AUS/435/Add.1). The draft 
report confirms that these changes are necessary to protect Australia's plant producers and the 
natural environment from exotic pests.  
The risk analysis is being conducted in two parts: (i) an assessment of the three major arthrop od 
pest groups - thrips, aphids and mites; and (ii) an assessment of other arthropod pests.  
Part 1 of the draft report includes:  
Summary Introduction Commercial trade and production Cut flower and foliage pathway Previous 
import policies and principles Changing patterns of activity and risk Pest risk assessment P est risk 
management Conclusion  
Part 2 will include a number of other arthropod pests that are national priority plant pests for Australia, 
or which are capable of transmitting a national priority  plant pest.  
Notification of the release of the draft report is provided in Biosecurity Advice 2018/30.  
This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[ ] 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  
[X] Other: Release of draft PRA (Part 1)  G/SPS/N/AUS/435/Add.2  
 
- 2 - 
 
  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) : 31 January 2019  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification Authority, 
[X] 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  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
The Biosecurity A dvice and draft report are also available on the department's website at: 
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/plant/cut -flowers . 
 
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
 
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