Biosecurity Tasmania Import Risk Analysis (IRA) Processes

When used to evaluate the biosecurity risk presented by imported goods and plant material to a sovereign state or country, it is commonly referred to as 'Import Risk Analysis'.

Biosecurity Tasmania undertakes Import Risk Analysis (IRA) reporting processes consistent with national and international guidelines, when evaluating what pests and diseases are of greatest concern to Tasmania in association with imported goods, plants and plant products, machinery and movement of people across its State borders.

As Australia's only island state, Tasmania enjoys freedom from many pests and diseases present on mainland Australia. Targeted regulation of traded goods to minimise biosecurity risks is an important function of Biosecurity Tasmania's plant biosecurity policy work. Triggers for risk analysis include:

• new exotic pest incursions on mainland Australia;
• program review of technical currency of existing Import Requirements held within the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania;
• new commodity import requests not previously considered;
• ongoing review of pest risks which may threaten Tasmania's major agricultural industry sectors and natural environment and
• Import requirement variation requests to existing Import Requirements

Policy Framework and Guidelines

A framework of risk analysis context, concepts, methods and core principles sets the broad parameters for risk analysis across all disciplines of biosecurity in Tasmania, whether it be plant, animals, weeds or invasive species.

 Import Risk Analysis (3.29 MB)​

Import Risk Analyses​​

The Import Risk Analyses used to underpin Biosecurity Tasmania's plant biosecurity regulatory policy platform can be found here.

​​​​Finalised Import Risk Analyses.

Plant Biosecurity Regulatory Changes Resulting from IRA Work Program​​​​

As a result of this body of IRA work, many regulatory changes are made in reference to Import Regulation, Plant Biosecurity pest lists and/or pest declaration changes. Such changes can be found under one of the following information links:

• Import Regulation - Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania (PBMTas)   ​

• Plant Import Requirement Changes (outside of annual publication of PBMTas)