The Australian Department of Agricultire, Fisheries and Forestry has completed the risk analysis for fresh apples (Malus domestica) from the Pacific Northwest states of the US (PNW-USA). It will now verify that the US can meet the risk management measures.
The Department initiated this risk analysis because the US requested market access for fresh apples from the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
This risk analysis was conducted as a review of biosecurity import requirements. This is because an assessment was conducted of the potential quarantine pests associated with apples from PNW-USA and found that:
- the pests of concern are the same, or of the same pest groups, as those pests that have been assessed previously for other horticultural goods
- there are appropriate risk management measures already established for these pests or pest groups.
Summary of the final report
The final report was released on 31 October 2022. The Department recommends that the import of commercially produced fresh apples from PNW-USA be permitted, provided they meet the biosecurity import conditions. All imports must come from commercial production areas of PNW-USA.
Click here to read a reaction on the report by APAL.
Source: agriculture.gov.au