Tasmania’s import risk assessment for potatoes will be updated following concerns raised by growers over an import licence approval.
Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett during budget estimates last week confirmed work on the import risk assessment was underway and was part of the government’s response to the controversy caused by a granted import licence to a South Australian processor.
DPIPWE granted Mitolo Group a licence to import fresh, ware potatoes into Tasmania in June by Biosecurity Tasmania. However, in September, when Labor revealed the approval during parliamentary Question Time, Tasmanian potato growers were shocked.
Farmers raised concerns over the potential the potatoes to carry new pests and diseases that could threaten Tasmania’s industry. The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association also lobbied Biosecurity Tasmania to update the import risk assessment following its discussions.
Mr Barnett told the committee last week the department had engaged the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture to help facilitate the process. He faced questions from Opposition Primary Industries spokesman Shane Broad, who questioned whether the government’s claim in budget papers that the import risk assessments were accurate was indeed valid.
However, Mr Barnett said it was right, and the update work was ongoing.
“There was support of the technical decision that was made by the chief plant health officer [to approve the licence to Mitolo], but there were three recommendations,” Mr Barnett said. “We’ve acted on those recommendations. We’ve set up a committee working on an import risk assessment, so that’s being undertaken together with stakeholders in the industry. They are working with the department through that IRA process and that is ongoing.”
Updating the import risk assessment was one of the recommendations the government agreed to follow an independent review of the Mitolo decision by plant pathologist Lois Ransom. DPIPWE also confirmed it plans to disclose information quarterly on permits granted and refused routinely. If approval has the potential to impact the industry, the department has also confirmed it will consult.
