G/SPS/N/AUS/458  
 
1 October 2018  
(18-6041) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources  
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 fruit, vegetables, cut -flowers and foliage  
4. Regions or countries likely to be  affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Draft group pest risk analysis for mealybugs and the 
viruses they transmit on fresh fruit, vegetable, cut-flower and foliage imports . 
Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 211 
6. Description of content: The draft group pest risk analysis considers the biosecurity risk 
posed by all members of the Pseudococcidae, Putoidae and Rhizoecidae families, 
commonly  referred to as mealybugs, and all viruses transmitted by mealybugs that are 
(or are likely to be) associated with fresh fruit, vegetables, cut flowers or foliage imported 
into Australia as commercial consignments. Phytosanitary measures are identified in the 
draft report for use in specific cases where measures are required. The draft report 
includes seven chapters and seven appendixes as follows:  
Summary  
 Introduction  
 Pest categorisation of mealybugs  
 Pest risk assessment of mealybugs  
 Pest categorisation of viruses transmitted by mealybugs  
 Pest risk assessment of viruses transmitted by mealybugs  
 Key findings  
 Pest risk management  
Appendixes A -G 
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.  G/SPS/N /AUS/458  
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
 ISPM N° 2 and 11  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed r egulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Following finalisation of the pest risk 
analysis.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 28 September 2018  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Following  finalisation of the pest risk analysis.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 27 November 2018  
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:  
13. 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 Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
 
Report also available (in English) from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources 
website:  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/biosecurity/risk -
analysis/g roup-pest/draft -mealybugs -report.pdf  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/group -pest-risk-
analyses/mealybugs