Fresh Cut Flowers Rob Schwartz & Rob McGahy Import Requirements 30 July 2013 Biosecurity

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 2 30 July 2032 INTERNATIONAL FRAMEWORK WTO SPS Agreement

World Trade Organisation Agreement on the Application of Sanitary & Phytosanitary Measures WTO SPS agreement applies to all SPS measures which may, directly or indirectly affect international trade Appropriate level of protection:...‘level of protection deemed appropriate by the WTO Member establishing a sanitary or phytosanitary measure to protect human, animal or plant life or health within its territory’ Members have the right to determine their own ALOP...‘taking into account the objective of minimising negative trade effects’ (i.e. applying the least trade restrictive SPS measures to achieve ALOP) Provisions of the SPS Agreement include… Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 3 30 July 2013

Assessment of risk Application of SPS measures must be based on an appropriate risk assessment that: is appropriate to the circumstances is based on scientific principles considers appropriate biological, scientific and economic (including environmental) evidence takes into account, international standards/guidelines, whenever possible Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 4 30 July 2013

Harmonisation WTO SPS Agreement is underpinned by 3 standard setting bodies – the three sisters Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 5 30 July 2013 IPPC (1952) 36 adopted International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) OIE (1924) terrestrial animal code & manual aquatic animal code & manual Codex (1963) food standards, guidelines and codes of practice SPS measures shall be based on these standard setting bodies unless: scientific justification exists, or as a consequence of the ALOP set by a country

Equivalence of SPS measures and adaption to regional conditions Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 6 30 July 2013 Members are obliged to consider that different SPS measures may be equally effective in achieving their ALOP: as alternatives or combinations (systems) Members are obliged to take into account regional condition including pest/disease prevalence and official SPS controls e.g. pest-/disease-free areas or areas of low pest or disease prevalence

Consistency in application of ALOP Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 7 30 July 2013 ALOP must be applied consistently. Arbitrary application of ALOP in different situations must not occur e.g. cannot restrict import of a commodity but allow another with identical pest risks Discrimination or disguised restrictions on trade must not occur e.g. cannot apply stricter SPS measures against a given pest than those applied against that pest domestically

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 8 30 July 2013 Flowers What drives Flower Imports?

Cut flower imports Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy 9 30 July 2013 Cut flowers and foliage imports have a long history of trade. Flowers have been imported into Australia for decades Over 90 different types of fresh cut flowers and foliage currently allowed to be imported Many can come from all countries, others are country specific Seasonal imports vary but have trended upwards over the last 5 years. Roses are a good example:

Cut flower imports Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Imports are driven by the same demands as local flower production Special occasions - Mothers Day - Valentines Day Shows and Cultural Festivals Personal / Sentimental Some flower species are imported counter-seasonally to Australia

Import Requirements Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 All consignments must meet Australia’s import requirements Free of live pests & diseases Description of all species in each consignment Readily propagatable species must be devitalised Certification

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) role Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Industry is primarily responsible for meeting requirements. However, DAFF has a key role in verifying that imported cut flowers meet Australia’s import requirements Free of live pests & diseases Assessing biosecurity risk for species and countries Publishing import requirements so that everyone who needs to know the requirements has access to them (eg ICON) Physical verification (inspection) at the border Ensuring that specific requirements have been met (eg treatments) Dealing with consignments that fail Australia’s requirements

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) role Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Inspection Inspection is not a biosecurity “measure”. It is an effective means of verifying that flowers meet Australia’s pest freedom requirement

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) role Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Treatments Because of the potential insect/arthropod risk, cut flowers currently require fumigation Australia’s preference is for pest issues to be managed off-shore. Incentives are provided to importers and suppliers to import consistently “clean” consignments Exemptions to mandatory fumigation for demonstrated “clean” pathways

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) role Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Devitalisation Because of the potential insect/arthropod risk, cut flowers currently require fumigation Some flower species have the potential to be propagated from stem cuttings It is a requirement that all readily propagatable flowers must be either physically or chemically devitalised Devitalisation can: occur pre-shipment in specific countries, or Can be performed on-arrival Imported consignments are subject to random testing to confirm that the treatment is effective

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) role Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Failed inspections EVERY consignment is subject to inspection by DAFF ALL consignments which fail inspection require remedial treatment, or can be exported or destroyed DAFF reports all treatment failures to the supplying country authority, with the stated expectation that corrective action is applied

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Pest risk analysis for Lilium spp. cut flowers from Taiwan

Lilium spp. cut flowers from Taiwan Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Taiwan requested market access in December The request was rated as priority A for Taiwan by the Import Market Access Advisory Group (IMAAG). Lilium cut flower imports from all other countries were rated as priority B by IMAAG.

Draft policy review: Alternative risk management measures to import Lilium spp. cut flowers from Taiwan Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Taiwan requested market access in December The assessment took into account the pests and pathogens present in Taiwan on the cut flower pathway. The quarantine pests identified as requiring measures to manage the risks include some species of beetles, thrips, leafminers and moths, as well as several viruses. The proposed management measures are designed to reduce risk to a very low level in order to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. Representatives from DAFF visited Taiwan to view the production processes.

Proposed risk management measures and operational procedures Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 Flowers must be free of bulbils. Either a systems approach to control insect pests administered by Taiwan’s NPPO, or methyl bromide fumigation. Pre-export phytosanitary inspection of lily cut flowers, as well as certification by the NPPO that the consignment is free of quarantine pests. On-arrival inspection to verify that quarantine pests or any other regulated articles are identified if present, and subjected to remedial action. Clearance by DAFF.

Consultation process for the Draft Policy Review Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 In March 2012 DAFF advised industry through the Post Entry Plant Industry Consultative Committee (PEPICC) of the policy review. The draft policy was released in November 2012 and the comment period was extended from 30 days to 60 days at the request of Australian flower industry. Nine comments were received within the comment period and three late submissions were also accepted. Comments were received from state and territory governments, industry and growers, as well as Taiwan. A teleconference was held with the flower industry to discuss the draft results of the review in May 2013.

Finalisation of the Policy Review Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 The proposed measures are consistent with DAFF’s existing policy for imported cut flowers and for other commodities. Australia has a long history of safe trade in cut flowers from a number of countries. DAFF is currently preparing the Final Policy Review for Lilium cut flowers from Taiwan for release. Work plans and final import conditions are yet to be finalised.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Fresh Cut Flowers – Import Requirements Rob Schwartz and Rob McGahy July 2013 QUESTIONS?