War of words between DAFF and AUSVEG on potato imports from New Zealand

AUSVEG has “wrongly accused” the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) of basing quarantine conditions on outdated information, and of avoiding accountability, says DAFF.

AUSVEG released a statement on Friday August 17 claiming a “devastating pest risk to $400 million Australian tomato industry”, with the import conditions for fresh potatoes from New Zealand currently under review by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity.

If approved, New Zealand potatoes will be allowed to enter Australia for processing.

“This is concerning because the New Zealand tomato and potato industries have been ravaged by the Tomato-potato psyllid and there is a danger that the pest will make its way to Australia with consignments of fresh potatoes from New Zealand,” said said AUSVEG communications manager, William Churchill.

Tomato, potato and capsicum are all Solanaceous plants affected by the Tomato-potato psyllid.

“The DAFF Draft import conditions report is based on outdated information and contains significant oversights which will potentially place the Australian tomato industry at risk from this pest.”

“DAFF Biosecurity seems to have a problem with accountability,” he said.

In response, a DAFF spokesperson said “Nothing could be further from the truth”.

“The disease on which AUSVEG bases its claims – zebra chip - has long been of interest to DAFF.

“When the bacterium causing zebra chip in potatoes and ‘psyllid yellows’ in tomatoes was detected in NZ in June 2008, DAFF immediately suspended the import conditions for host fruits, including tomatoes. This was announced publicly and was in addition to the voluntary suspension of exports that NZ self–imposed.”

DAFF conducted a comprehensive risk analysis on the bacterium and the tomato–potato psyllid, said the spokesperson. The analysis was published initially as a draft report in May 2009 and stakeholders were invited to comment. AUSVEG were not among the seven stakeholders that provided comment on the draft report.

After assessing the submissions and taking all scientifically valid comments into account, DAFF released a final report in September 2009.

DAFF also attended conferences and workshops to present the findings, including the AUSVEG Zebra Chip Industry Summit. No substantive concerns were raised and trade in capsicums and tomatoes from NZ commenced under the conditions developed through this process.

“Since 2009 there have been approximately 8000 tonnes of fresh tomatoes and 5000 tonnes of fresh capsicums imported from New Zealand. There have been no detections of the psyllid or the bacterium in the Australian environment,” DAFF stated.

The most recent draft report, proposing conditions under which potatoes may be imported from NZ for processing only has been released for stakeholder comment. The report invites comment and any provision of scientific information that the industry believe is relevant to the biosecurity risks.

The draft recommends potatoes only be permitted if they have been washed and brushed to remove soil, have been subjected to quarantine inspection by both New Zealand and Australian officers, and are processed under quarantine control.

Fresh, whole New Zealand potatoes will not be available for retail sale.

Source: Farm Online

You can find the full statements of AUSVEG and DAFF below:

Statement by AUSVEG:

Devastating pest risk to $400 million Australian tomato industry

17-Aug-2012

Fresh concerns are being raised about the future of the Australian tomato industry with proposed import conditions providing an opportunity for an exotic insect pest to enter our nation.

The Tomato-potato psyllid a small, flying insect resembling a cicada which has wreaked havoc in New Zealand and North America, could potentially be headed to Australian shores if proposed import conditions are approved.

“Australia is lucky enough to be free of this devastating pest, so why would our government give it the chance to cross our borders and potentially devastate our tomato industry?” said AUSVEG Public Affairs and Communications Manager, William Churchill.

AUSVEG is the National Peak Industry Body representing Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

The import conditions for fresh potatoes from New Zealand are currently under review by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) Biosecurity and if approved, New Zealand potatoes will be allowed to enter Australia for processing.

“This is concerning because the New Zealand tomato and potato industries have been ravaged by the Tomato-potato psyllid and there is a danger that the pest will make its way to Australia with consignments of fresh potatoes from New Zealand,” said Mr Churchill.

“The DAFF Draft import conditions report is based on outdated information and contains a number of significant oversights which will potentially place the Australian tomato industry at risk from this pest.”

“DAFF Biosecurity seem to have a problem with accountability, which is a huge problem as they are charged with protecting our nation from exotic pests and diseases,” said Mr Churchill.

The Australian tomato industry is one of the largest sectors of Australian horticulture and in 2010-11 was worth $418 million.

“This insect loves to feast on the stems of Solanaceous crops, crippling the health of plants and drastically affecting their yield,” said Mr Churchill.

Tomato, potato and capsicum are all Solanaceous plants affected by the Tomato-potato psyllid.

“The concerns of the Australian tomato industry echo those being made by Australian potato growers in regards to this extremely damaging pest,” said Mr Churchill.

The insect can also carry a bacterium which causes discolouration in potatoes, rendering them unsaleable.

“The Australian tomato industry could potentially be devastated if this pest becomes established in our nation.”

“This would affect not only tomato growers but the large number of local food processors who use Australian tomatoes in their products, potentially putting hundreds of jobs right across the supply chain at risk,” said Mr Churchill.

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Statement by DAFF

Setting the record straight on zebra chip

17 August 2012 DAFF12/42

In its media release of 17 August 2012, AUSVEG wrongly accuses the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) of basing quarantine conditions on outdated information, and of avoiding accountability. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The disease zebra chip on which AUSVEG bases its claims has long been of interest to DAFF. When the bacterium causing zebra chip in potatoes and ‘psyllid yellows’ in tomatoes was detected in New Zealand in June 2008 DAFF assessed the risk and immediately suspended the import conditions for host fruits, including tomatoes. This was announced publically and was in addition to the voluntary suspension of exports that New Zealand self–imposed.

DAFF then proceeded to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis on the bacterium and the tomato–potato psyllid. The analysis was published initially as a draft report in May 2009 and stakeholders were invited to comment. AUSVEG were not among the seven stakeholders that provided comment on the draft report. After assessing the submissions and taking all scientifically valid comments into account, DAFF released a final report in September 2009.

DAFF also attended a number of conferences and workshops to present the findings, including at the AUSVEG Zebra Chip Industry Summit. No substantive concerns were raised and trade in capsicums and tomatoes from New Zealand commenced under the conditions that had been developed through this process. Since 2009 there have been approximately 8000 tonnes of fresh tomatoes and 5000 tonnes of fresh capsicums imported from New Zealand. There have been no detections of the psyllid or the bacterium in the Australian environment.

The most recent draft report, proposing conditions under which potatoes may be imported from New Zealand for processing only has been released for stakeholder comment. The report invites comment and any provision of scientific information that the industry believe is relevant to the biosecurity risks. The report recommends that potatoes only be permitted if they have been washed and brushed to remove soil, have been subjected to quarantine inspection by both New Zealand and Australian officers, and are processed under quarantine control. All waste must be disposed of under quarantine security. Fresh, whole potatoes from New Zealand will not be available for retail sale.

DAFF takes information presented by stakeholders seriously and provides formal opportunity for interested parties to provide comment during the development of import conditions. However, as biosecurity risks can change over time, DAFF is constantly scanning for new information relevant to biosecurity risks and also invites stakeholders to contact the department at any time with any information that they become aware of. The import conditions for hosts of tomato–potato psyllid and the bacterium are based on the best available science. No information has been uncovered that suggests that the current biosecurity measures, or those proposed in the draft report, do not protect Australia

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Statement by AUSVEG:

DAFF stands by outdated three-year-old review of devastating potato disease, but alarm bells ring loudly for Aussie potato industry

21-Aug-2012

AUSVEG, the national peak industry body representing Australian vegetable and potato growers today expressed its shock and concern following the release of a statement by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) defending its three-year-old scientific analysis about the devastating Zebra Chip disease and the Tomato-potato psyllid. New Zealand has requested market access to import fresh potatoes into Australia for processing but there is a risk that the potatoes may contain the disease.

In a media release issued last Friday, DAFF claims to have completed a ‘comprehensive’ risk analysis of the bacteria causing Zebra Chip disease and the psyllid responsible for spreading it, whilst also claiming that they are ‘constantly scanning for new information relevant to biosecurity risks’.

“I’m stunned at the language DAFF is comfortable with using in its releases - claiming that in 2009 it was even possible to do a ‘comprehensive’ risk analysis is frankly misleading,” said AUSVEG Public Affairs Manager William Churchill.

“So much has changed in three years from a scientific perspective. DAFF alleges that in 2009 they were able to comprehensively consider hosts, vectors, suitability of environment and the psyllid’s reproductive strategy. It’s now 2012 and most of that information is still unknown - anything ‘comprehensive’ is just guesswork,” said Mr Churchill.

“Worse still are the claims that DAFF is ‘constantly scanning for new information’. The only information post 2009 that DAFF has updated is to change the scientific name of the Zebra Chip bacteria. I don’t know how DAFF is scanning for new information but it feels like they are getting their information by Telex when the rest of the country is using email,” said Mr Churchill.

Since 2009, new research has emerged discrediting DAFF’s belief that potato tubers infected with the Zebra Chip disease are not capable of sprouting and growing. In addition, DAFF believes that there is only one way to transmit the disease, which has also been proven incorrect since 2009.

The DAFF release also states that ‘no information has been uncovered that suggests that the current biosecurity measures, or those proposed in the draft report, do not protect Australia’.

“These have been some major findings that shed light on our understanding of the Zebra Chip complex and it’s incredible that the Department has not kept itself abreast of these changes and instead, the industry has had to do the work for them. As industry, we’re not just suggesting - we’re stating – that the biosecurity measures being proposed are insufficient, are based on flawed assumptions and present too great a risk,” said Mr Churchill.

“DAFF makes the argument that research needs to be scientifically based and justifiable, but DAFF’s own publications fail to hold to its own standards. There is little to no referencing in their documents and many claims in these reports are completely indistinguishable from opinion. Additionally, DAFF use an ‘absence of evidence’ as ‘evidence of absence’ meaning that if no specific studies are available for certain factors to assess risk then DAFF do not need to consider these at all,” said Mr Churchill.

“Currently there is just too much new information coming to light. What DAFF should do is re-examine its entire Import Risk Analysis. Why is it so essential to rush into these new arrangements and risk hundreds of millions of dollars worth of agricultural production?” said Mr Churchill.
 

(Click to enlarge)

Potato Tubers affected by Zebra chip disease