Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00094:schedule:4:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00094
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 4 (pt 1/3)
Character Range: 16144–19127

Schedule 4—Reasons—bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed

Note: See paragraph 5(b)(iii).

Summary
 Imported bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed products, containing uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat, are subject to physical treatments that eliminate, or considerably reduce, the prevalence of viable WSSV.
 Many products are irradiated on-arrival with a 50kGy dose of gamma radiation at an approved irradiation facility.
 The current dose of radiation administered to these products is considerably higher than the dose required to inactivate WSSV.
 Irradiation significantly reduces the likelihood of entry of WSSV in imported bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed, containing uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat. Therefore, the level of risk associated with these goods falls within Australia's ALOP.

Bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed
Prior to the Biosecurity (Suspended Goods – Uncooked Prawns) Determination 2017, Australia imported bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed, containing uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat. This included whole or partial prawns, and processed prawn products such as extruded pellets and flakes.

Bait and feed composition and potential for WSSV infection
 Prawns are not commonly included as pet fish or aquaculture feed ingredients. However, uncooked prawn meat can be imported for bait for aquatic use.
 Bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed, containing uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat, are considered susceptible to WSSV.
– Uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat for pet fish food and aquaculture feed may be prepared by freezing with a small amount of fresh or salt water. Freezing is not known to be effective in mitigating WSSV. Sufficient viable virus remains in frozen prawns to infect and cause mortalities in exposed Penaeus vannamei (Hasson et al. (2006) and Durand et al. (2000)).
 Extruded pellets and flakes for pet fish food and aquaculture feed are subject to intense heat as part of their production processes. These temperatures are well above what is required to inactivate WSSV (AQUAVETPLAN, Whitespot Disease strategy, P41). As such, these feeds do not pose a risk of introducing WSSV and would fall within Australia's ALOP.
Note: In 2017, the AQUAVETPLAN Whitespot Disease strategy could be viewed on http://www.agriculture.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/animal-plant/aquatic/aquavetplan/white-spot.pdf.

Irradiation treatment of bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed
 The Department's 2014 gamma irradiation policy review identified gamma irradiation as an effective method of treatment for imported products that are not heat treated and not intended for human consumption.
 The import policy for bait for aquatic use, pet fish food and aquaculture feed products, containing uncooked prawns and uncooked prawn meat, requires gamma irradiation to a level