Alerts

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has reviewed the bacterium Dickeya fangzhongdai following its detection on Phalaenopsis spp. nursery stock from approved sources in Taiwan. As a result, the department will continue to consider this to be a pathogen of biosecurity concern for Australia.

Additional measures have been put in place at approved sources in Taiwan to lower the incidence of this pathogen.

The department is currently working to re-instate the following 5 previously suspended growers/greenhouses in the coming days:

• Brother Orchid Nursery Co. Ltd
  

• SOGO by Dummen Orange Co. Ltd
  

• Shulong Flowers Industry Co. Ltd
  

• I Hsin Biotechnology Inc.
  

• Yu Pin Biological Technology Co. Ltd
  

Import permit holders are advised that import permits will be amended by Friday 20 December 2019 to include the revised import conditions.

Stakeholders are also advised that any incoming consignments detected with 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 one or more of the following:

1. disposal of entire consignment, or
   

2. exportation of entire consignment, or
   

3. appropriate risk mitigation measures (at the importer’s expense and risk) which may include isolation and containment pending further identification by the department.
   Note: if samples are identified as Dickeya or Colletotrichum affected plants are to be disposed of and the remainder of the consignment is to be re-inspected.
   

Who does this alert affect:
Importers of Phalaenopsis spp. nursery stock from approved sources in Taiwan, brokers, Inspections Group, and Assessment Services Group.

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