| The Commonwealth has released for public comment a Draft Import Risk Analysis for the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. This bacterial pathogen has a very broad host-range of plant species, and is known to pose a major potential environmental threat. The Risk Analysis explicitly limits itself to the potential arrival pathways of imported nursery stock and seed for sowing, and the possible impacts on the horticultural and agricultural industries. Environmental impact and response scoping is not covered, although the Draft IRA does contain a list of Australian native host species known from overseas infections. However, Xylella is on the EEPL Priority List of environmental pests and diseases yet to arrive in Australia, there is a short profile of it in this Information Paper. Comments on the Draft IRA are due by 1st March 2023. You can view the Draft IRA and comment here. |
