Wellington, New Zealand
July 3, 2007
Source:
Biosecurity New Zealand
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/strategy-and-consultation/consultation/risk-analysis
Risk Analysis - Consultation
Biosecurity New Zealand'a approach to various Risk Analysis
matters is reviewed or created from time-to-time. If submissions
are being sought on an Risk Analysis consultation document, it
will be listed below.
Review of the 'winter window'
import pathway for fruit fly hosts of Bactrocera cucumis
(cucumber fruit fly)
The Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry (MAF) has reviewed the technical
justification behind the 'winter window' import pathway. The
'winter window' access period from 1 May to 30 September is
a component of a systems approach to prevent the entry and
establishment of Bactrocera cucumis (cucumber fruit fly).
The winter window component is carried out in conjunction
with mandatory offshore field control programmes for fruit
fly.
Original document:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/strategy/consultation/winter-window-consultation.pdf
The ‘winter window’ access period
from 1 May to the 30th September is a component of a systems
approach to prevent the entry and establishment of Bactrocera
cucumis (cucumber fruit fly). The ‘winter window’ component must
be carried out in conjunction with mandatory in-field control
activities in Australia for cucumber fruit fly. The winter
window access period is based on the reduced likelihood of
cucumber fruit fly being able to establish during this period in
New Zealand. The commodities exported to New Zealand under this
import pathway are cucumber, rockmelon, honeydew melon,
watermelon, scallopini and zucchini. Winter window cannot be
used on
commodities that are exported to New Zealand outside of the
‘winter window’ period or commodities that are a host to fruit
fly species other than B. cucumis.
The Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry (MAF) has reviewed the technical justification behind
the ‘winter window’ period to determine whether it still
provides an appropriate level of protection. The review explored
the scientific justification behind the survival and
establishment potential of cucumber fruit fly in New Zealand
under a range of scenarios.
The review on the ‘winter window’
component of the import pathway focused on modelling of climatic
data that the cucumber fruit fly would be exposed to upon
arrival and the availability of host material. The review of the
‘winter window’ access period has concluded that eggs and larvae
of cucumber fruit fly are highly unlikely to complete
development of their life cycle between 1 May and 1 August.
Cucumber fruit fly arriving in New Zealand between 1 August and
1 September was considered capable of surviving and reaching
maturity in particularly warm years in the warmest parts of New
Zealand. However, in most years this would not occur. After 1
September cucumber fruit fly eggs/larvae are capable of
surviving and reaching maturity under the climatic conditions
experienced in average years in the northern portion of the
North Island.
The review also concluded that
there is a reduced availability of host material at the end of
the winter window access period. There are few, if any,
significant hosts with susceptible fruit available outdoors
during September and October and that the main period of host
availability was considered to be December to May.
Field control programmes carried
out in Australia for cucumber fruit fly consist of crop
monitoring (twice weekly), weekly pre-harvest sprays of
dimethoate, and pre-export inspection of fruit provide a high
level of confidence that infested fruit are either not present
or are at extremely low levels in commercial consignments of
produce. Since the inception of the ‘winter window’ import
pathway in 2001 there has been 1 interception of cucumber fruit
fly in a consignment of rock melons. This consisted of 1
infested fruit containing 5 live fruit fly eggs in a consignment
of 2160 fruit.
The review has concluded that
there is a possibility of cucumber fruit fly entering New
Zealand, and completing its life cycle in the warmest areas of
New Zealand near the end of the current winter window period.
The intention of the current import pathway is that the field
control programmes for fruit fly are complemented by the reduced
likelihood of establishment during the winter window period.
This analysis indicates that under the climatic conditions in
average years, cucumber fruit fly arriving late in the current
winter window period would be capable of surviving and reaching
maturity and therefore the current dates do not meet the
requirements.
Given the high consequences to New
Zealand’s economy and environment if an incursion of cucumber
fruit fly was to occur MAF proposes that the winter window
period is shortened to the 1st September.
MAF considers that with the
shortened ‘winter window’ period in combination with in-field
controls, and the reduced availability of preferred fruit fly
host material at the end of September and October that it would
be highly unlikely that cucumber fruit fly would establish in
New Zealand should it arrive in the revised winter window
period.
MAF also proposes that given it is
unlikely that cucumber fruit fly can establish in New Zealand
during the ‘winter window’ period that the actions for the
interception of cucumber fruit fly are revised to include
treatment (where appropriate) as a further option to reshipment
or destruction of the consignment.
Comments on these proposed changes
should be sent to the address below by 30 July 2007. Depending
on the results of the consultation, it is planned to adopt these
changes by the end of August 2007. Find attached background
documents to the proposed amendment that include:
(i) An analysis on the survival
and establishment potential of B. cucumis in New Zealand during
the period of 1 May to 30 September;
(ii) Description of field control programmes for B. cucumis
(iii) Consequence assessment on the impact of B. cucumis
establishing in New Zealand during the period of 1 May to 30
September.
Bactrocera cucumis establishment potential in NZ (123 Kb)
All submissions must be
received by MAF no later than
30 July 2007.
Please address all submissions to:
Vivian Dalley
Plant Imports
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington
Fax: +64 4 894 0662
Email:
plantimports@maf.govt.nz
Also see:
-
Winter window field control activities
-
Consequence Assessment for establishment of Bactrocera cucumis
in New Zealand |
