Alerts

The Department of Agriculture has been made aware of a change in biosecurity risk associated with Phalaenopsis spp. nursery stock from approved sources in Taiwan, through a recent detection of an exotic pathogen (Dickeya fangzhongdai) on an imported consignment.

Dickeya fangzhongdai is a plant pathogenic bacterium that is of biosecurity concern for Australia.

The department remains committed to ensuring that import conditions remain current and effective to manage changing biosecurity risks and is currently progressing actions to investigate the matter further.

As a result of the changing biosecurity risk, stakeholders are reminded that any incoming consignments harbouring bacterial disease symptoms will be placed on hold. An assessment of the biosecurity risk will be made by a plant pathologist to determine the options that may be available to the importer. These options may include any one of the following:

1. appropriate risk mitigation measures (at the importer’s expense and risk) which may include isolation and containment pending further identification by the department, or
   

2. exportation, or
   

3. disposal.
   

The above options are consistent with those provided for all nursery stock consignments found with disease symptoms.

Who does this alert affect:
Importers of Phalaenopsis spp. nursery stock from approved sources in Taiwan.

Further information:
Enquiries related to this alert can be submitted to Plant Import Operations via email to imports@agriculture.gov.au.