Public Consultation - Draft Import Risk Analysis for Import Requirement 10 - Grape Phylloxera - (Hosts and Vectors)

The consultation period for this draft Import Risk Analysis has now closed, the draft will now be finalised and published on the Finalised Import Risk Analyses web page.

​Grape phylloxera is an insect that feeds on the roots of grapevines. The feeding activity of grape phylloxera infestations eventually causes grapevines to die. Grape phylloxera is commonly referred to as the ‘world’s worst grapevine pest’ as infestations can cause extensive damage and can only be managed by the removal of all infested grapevines and replacing them with resistant grapevine varieties.

Grape phylloxera does not spread greatly via natural dispersal; however, it can be spread extensively by the movement of ‘vectors’ including:

  • grapevine planting material (potted vines, cuttings, rootlings, tissue cultures)

  • grape fruit (wine and table grapes)

  • grape fruit products (must, juice and marc)

  • fresh leaves of plants belonging to the Vitis genus 

  • agricultural equipment and machinery used in grapevine growing areas and

  • visitors and their vehicles to grapevine growing areas (predominantly vineyards and wineries)

Import Requirement 10 (IR10) of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania 2024 imposes specific phytosanitary measures on imported vectors of grape phylloxera, (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae), which is a ‘Prohibited Pest’ under the Biosecurity Act 2019.

Pest Risk Analysis​​

Biosecurity Tasmania has undertaken a review of the existing Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Grape Phylloxera. This review takes into account new information on grape phylloxera biology and its management practices. This IRA has identified several risks that could likely result in changes to the existing IR10 requirements.

The revised IRA found that the risk of grape phylloxera entering Tasmania is ‘moderate’ to ‘high’ for all vectors of grape phylloxera, excluding tissue culture. This exceeds Tasmania’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP) of ‘very low’. Therefore, phytosanitary measures will continue to be required to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of grape phylloxera in Tasmania.

There are seven recommendations from this review, which can be found in the Draft Import Risk Analysis. 

 DRAFT Import Risk Analysis for IR10 Grape Phylloxera (PDF 3Mb)​


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