Finalised IRAs can be found here, covering a range of plant products and commodities and/or pests and diseases of specific concern to Tasmania in trade. Such IRAs may be subject to review every several years to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose, as changes occur to a pest or diseases profile in trade (pathway risk).
Grape Phylloxera
Biosecurity Tasmania has reviewed the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Import Requirement (IR)10, Grape Phylloxera – Hosts and Vectors. As a result of completing this IRA, recommendations were made to update IR10 to ensure Tasmania is appropriately protected from grape phylloxera without being unnecessarily trade restrictive. The recommendations update IR10 and include additional vectors not addressed by the previous IRA.
Potato
Biosecurity Tasmania completed an Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Potatoes. Potatoes are the state’s highest value vegetable with Tasmania being the largest potato producer in Australia in 2022–23, accounting for 31% of national production (Australia Horticulture Statistics Handbook 2022/23). In recent years, potato production continues to be a mainstay for the vegetable processing sector in Tasmania with returns to potato growers over $225 million annually.
The primary focus of this finalised IRA was to identify and assess the biosecurity risks posed by the domestic trade of potato tubers (whether seed potato, ware or processing potatoes), along with several other classes of potato matter. The IRA assessed the movement of potato matter across nine different entry pathway scenarios.
Of the 687 pests reviewed, 26 pests and diseases of potato were subject to full risk assessment against the nine different entry pathway scenarios. The IRA found that regulations in trade need to be introduced for seven different pests of significant biosecurity concern on the potato import pathway, including a declared weed genus – Orobanche spp. (broomrapes).
The IRA for Potato is split into three Parts:
Part A: Risk Analysis and Risk Management (PDF 4Mb)
Part B: Pest Categorisation Risk Assessment (PDF 4Mb)
Part C: Pest Data Sheets and Stakeholder Comment (PDF 2Mb)
Myrtle rust
The Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Myrtle Rust addressed the serious threat posed by the invasive disease myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) to the Australian natural environment. This disease continues to cause serious damage to Australian native ecosystems and plant species along the eastern seaboard of mainland Australia following its detection in New South Wales in April 2010.
When myrtle rust was first detected in Tasmania a pest profile was created to assess the risk of the pathogen to Tasmania. This initial pest profile was then revisited and converted into a formal IRA. The IRA is a very detailed technical document on the characteristics and risk profile of myrtle rust as a biosecurity threat to the Tasmanian environment and economy. A number of recommendations are made within the document on how best to manage and minimise the risk of myrtle rust to Tasmanian into the future, and a new Import Requirement (IR47) has been included in the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania to regulate the trade of any Myrtaceae plant matter into Tasmania from interstate.
Import Risk Analysis for Myrtle Rust (PDF 2Mb)
Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd)
Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) was determined as being established on mainland Australia and not eradicable in 2015 by the National Management Group (NMG). This change of status nationally meant that Tasmania needed to risk assess this pest and determine if it required reclassification as a List A disease Regulated Quarantine Pest (RQP) and thus regulate for it.
A pest profile was conducted to determine the potential impact to Tasmanian agricultural industries and the potential pest status including inherent challenges in regulating. The resulting unrestricted risk estimate (URE) was ‘Low’ which does not meet Tasmania’s ALOP of ‘very low’ risk. Therefore a full import risk analysis was required.
Tasmanian Plant Biosecurity Routine Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid (PSTVd) (PDF 5Mb)
Silverleaf whitefly
The IRA evaluates the unrestricted risk estimates associated with several different pathways of commodity import at risk of accidentally introducing both the sap sucking insect, Silverleaf Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), and the viral pathogens Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (Gemini virus) and/or Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus (Carlavirus), into the State of Tasmania.
This IRA for Import Requirement 33 – Silverleaf Whitefly, determines whether or not the Import Requirement is technically current, with the key finding that the pest be retained as a List A Pest (Regulated Quarantine Pest) for Tasmania, and therefore must be regulated for in Import Requirement.
Routine Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Import Requirement 33 – Silverleaf Whitefly (PDF 3Mb)
Green snail
The IRA evaluates the unrestricted risk estimates associated with several different pathways of commodity import at risk of accidentally introducing the mollusc, Green Snail (Cantareus apertus (Born 1778)), into the State of Tasmania. The review was undertaken to determine if Import Requirement 25 of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania remained fit-for-purpose.
The risk analysis determined that the pest be revoked as a List A Regulated Quarantine Pest (RQP) of concern to Tasmania, and re-categorise as an ‘Unwanted Quarantine Pest (UQP)', by maintaining the pests declaration under Section 8 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1997. As a result, Import Requirement 25 has now been revoked.
If the pest should ever be intercepted contaminating imported plants or plant products into Tasmania at the State biosecurity border, then regulatory action will be taken to remove the threat posed.
Fruit Fly Host Produce
Fruit flies are among the most important horticultural pests in the world, rendering a wide range of fruit unfit for sale or consumption.
Tasmania is free of pest fruit flies.
Entry of host produce to Tasmania has been regulated for many years to support area freedom and maintain export market confidence. Today we administer eighteen fruit fly phytosanitary protocols called Import Requirements for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt)) and Mediterrenean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)).
Review of Import Requirements for Fruit Fly Host Produce from Mainland Australia (PDF 4Mb)
Queen Bee Importation
This Import Risk Analysis indicates the unrestricted risk of small hive beetle (Aethina tumida Murray) gaining entry to Tasmania via queen bee importation from interstate exceeds Tasmania's Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP). As a consequence, regulatory control measures to reduce the risk to a level below or meeting Tasmania's ALOP are identified.
Import Risk Analysis on Queen Bees (PDF 3Mb)
Onion Smut
Tasmania regulates passage of Allium commodities based on the presence of Iris Yellow Spot
Tospovirus (IYSV) and onion smut
(Urocystis cepulae Frost) under Import Requirement 11 (IR11) of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania (PBMTas).
This analysis applies only to part (iii) of the IR and is restricted to commercially produced
Allium seed for the purposes of sowing in Tasmania. The term 'commercial' takes account of standard commercial and quality assurance production practices for the seed. The analysis applies only to the disease onion smut (Urocystis cepulae).
Import Risk Analysis on Onion Smut (PDF 4Mb)
Tobacco Blue Mould
Routine Import Risk Analysis for Import Requirement 17 – Tobacco Blue Mould
This Import Risk Analysis (IRA) was conducted to review the technical currency of Import Requirement 17 - Hosts of Tobacco Blue Mould Fungus (Peronospora hyoscyami
f.sp.
tabacina (D.B. Adam) Skalicky) (TBM). The risk analysis found that the Unrestricted Risk Estimate (URE) for TBM for Tasmania was negligible, and met Biosecurity Tasmania’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP). As a result, phytosanitary measures were found to be not required, and the Import Requirement was revoked by public notice on 17 December 2010.
Routine Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Import Requirement 17 - Tobacco Blue Mould (PDF 771Kb)
Impatiens Downy Mildew
Routine Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Import Requirement 34 – Impatiens Downy Mildew.
This Import Risk Analysis (IRA) was conducted to review the technical currency of Import Requirement 34 - Hosts of Impatiens Downy Mildew (Plasmopara obducens (J. Schröt.) J. Schröt. in Cohn). The risk analysis determined that the Unrestricted Risk Estimate for Impatiens Downy Mildew was ‘negligible’, and hence met Biosecurity Tasmania’s Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP). As a result, phytosanitary measures were found to be not required, and the Import Requirement was revoked by public notice on 17 December 2010.
Routine Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for Import Requirement 34 - Impatiens Downy Mildew (PDF 197Kb)