Finalised Import Risk Analyses

​​​​​​​​​​​​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). This may be as a result of:

• New plant product lines or commodities being sought to be imported, which were not traded at the time of the IRA review;

• Changes to a pest or diseases known incidence in the field interstate, including new foreign pest incursions or outbreaks requiring emergency plant pest regulatory controls, national foreign pest outbreak information can be found at www.outbreak.gov.au;

• New knowledge about a target pest's vectoring potential for new pests or diseases not previously considered to be a risk at the time of IRA review;

• Changes to the nature and/or degree of regulatory intervention by interstate biosecurity agencies about domestic pests of concern to Tasmania.

​​Potato

​​Biosecurity Tasmania has completed its 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.

Currently, all regulatory conditions applying to the import of potato tubers into Tasmania are detailed within Import Requirement 9 (IR9) of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania, administered under the Biosecurity Act 2019.

In response to trade movements of potato into Tasmania, Biosecurity Tasmania commenced development of the IRA in October 2020. Completion of this IRA represents the first plant ‘commodity level’ review of its kind undertaken by Biosecurity Tasmania.

As a result of completing this IRA, IR9 has been substantially revised and will now regulate against seven different pests (and diseases) of significant biosecurity concern, including against species of a declared weed genus – Orobanche spp. (broomrapes).​

Pest Risk Analysis

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

• Part B: Pest Categorisation Risk Assessment

•Part C: Pest Data Sheets and Stakeholder Comment

​​

​​​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. ​

Myrtle rust was first detected in north-west Tasmania in February 2015 and is currently a Declared Pest of biosecurity concern to Tasmania under the Biosecurity Regulations 2022. For Tasmania, this plant pest has been subject to biosecurity regulation since 16 July 2010, through import restrictions on the import of all plant material from the Myrtaceae family. This included restrictions on the import of live plants, fruit, seed, tissue culture, cut flowers, foliage and stems.

In Tasmania, the disease has been detected almost exclusively on Lophomytrus x ralphii cultivars (a common garden plant), with only 5 other reports since 2015 at the time of completion of the IRA across three other types of introduced (exotic) Myrtaceous hosts, namely Ugni molinae (Chilean guava), Agonis flexuosa (willow myrtle) and Myrtus communis (common myrtle). The disease has not been reported from any native Myrtaceous host in Tasmania, even though a number of these species are reported to be susceptible to the disease.

Pest Risk Analysis

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) will be identified in the 2025 Edition of 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)

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.

Silverleaf Whitefly (SLW) is an important pest of a wide range of glasshouse and field crops, ornamentals and weed species worldwide, with a host range extending to several hundred plant species spread over 60 different plant families. SLW can vector over 121 different viruses according to Crop Protection Compendium pest data sheets (CPC - CABI), the most numerous and important of which are the Begomoviruses (Geminiviruses). ​

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 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 the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRETas) administers 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

 

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)

Grape Phylloxera

 

Import Requirement 10 (IR10) of the Plant Biosecurity Manual Tasmania imposes specific phytosanitary measures on imported vectors of the List A pest, grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch)).

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 eradicated by the removal of all infested grapevines and replacing them with resistant grafted root stock.

 Import Risk Analysis Grape Phylloxera (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)

​