As part of a policy review relating to the importation of fresh table grapes bunches (Vitis spp.) from other Australian states and territories, the department released a draft pest risk analysis and pest categorisation report.
Stakeholder consultation for the draft documents closed 1 August 2015.
The final policy review regarding the importation of fresh table grape bunches from other Australia states and territories was released 20 October 2015.
The pest categorisation process identified pests and diseases that met the definition of a quarantine pest associated with the pathway, including:
- absence from Western Australia (or under official control)
- association with the table grape bunch pathway
- potential to establish and spread in Western Australia and
- be of economic concern should it establish in Western Australia.
These quarantine pests were then assessed to estimate the biosecurity risk posed to Western Australia by the importation of fresh table grapes bunches (Vitis spp.) from other Australian states and territories.
The risk assessments found that bitter rot, Phomopsis cane and leaf spot and Queensland fruit fly presented an unacceptable biosecurity risk to Western Australian industries, environment and communities.
A range of specific risk mitigation measures (quarantine conditions) were proposed to reduce the biosecurity risks to an acceptable level.