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Examination of the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) process
Nadia Bouhafs
24 October 2014
Biosecurity Legislation Forum
The term ‘biosecurity risk’ refers to the potential of a disease or pest entering, emerging, establishing or spreading in Australia; and the disease or pest causing harm to the environment, or economic or community activities.
Department of Agriculture
Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs 2 24 October 2014
Managing biosecurity risks for imports to Australia
Why Australia imports
Importing provides Australia with a
range of benefits, such as access to a
greater variety of products including;
those we don’t produce
counter seasonal product availability
products used in domestic industries.
3 Department of Agriculture
Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs 24th October 2014
Australian farmers have benefited significantly from international trade,
and today Australian-made products are available around the world. As
depicted in the pie chart in 2012-13, the value of Australian food exports
was $31.7 billion, representing around two-thirds of what we produce. In
comparison, the value of food imports was $11.57 billion
Why Australia imports
Import Risk Assessments
The department undertake two types of import risk assessments;
import risk analyses (IRAs), regulated under the Quarantine Regulations 2000
non-regulated risk assessments.
Department of Agriculture 5
Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs 24th October 2014
Import risk analysis (IRA)
An IRA will be undertaken when:
relevant risk management measures have not been established, or
relevant risk management measures for a similar good and pest/disease
combination do exist, but the likelihood and/or consequences of entry,
establishment or spread of pests or diseases could differ significantly from
those previously assessed.
Department of Agriculture 6
Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs 24th October 2014
Examination of the IRA process
Focus of consultation was on;
transparency and consultation during the IRA process
the use of external scientific and economic expertise
consideration of regional differences in animal and plant health status during
the IRA process.
Department of Agriculture 7 24th October 2014
Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs
Who did we talk to? As part of the examination of the IRA process there was a consultation process
from 11 July 2014 until 10 September 2014.
group discussions were held nationally
one-on-one meetings with stakeholders
meetings with all state and territory governments
a written submissions process
Department of Agriculture 8
Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs 24th October 2014
What did we hear?
Department of Agriculture 9
Key areas;
consultation
prioritisation
resourcing
relationships with the department
external expertise
science in the IRA process
regional differences
Eminent Scientist Group (ESG)
role of industry in an IRA
24th October 2014 Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs
Consultation, transparency and information How, when and why the department consults
Provision of information
Revision of the IRA Handbook
Relationships between the department and industry
Departmental client manager
Departmental contact points
Prioritisation
Sharing information
IRA Handbook
Department of Agriculture 10
24th October 2014 Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs
Science in the IRA process
Transparency
Confidence in the science
Use of peer reviewed scientific information
Use of new scientific information
Scrutiny and technical assurances
Department of Agriculture 11
24th October 2014 Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs
External expertise and the Eminent Scientist Group (ESG)
Department of Agriculture 12
External expertise used by the department
When in the process external expertise are used
The current ESG
Composition of the ESG
Role of the ESG
24th October 2014 Examination of the IRA process Nadia Bouhafs
Other points raised
Regional differences
Methodology
The role of industry
Specific IRAs
ALOP
Resourcing
Import permits
Where to from here?
The submissions and group discussion minutes are currently being
reviewed and the outcomes being considered by the department.
Some outcomes of the IRA examination will be developed through the
implementation of the biosecurity legislation.