Import conditions for fresh pomegranate whole fruit (Punica granatum) from India have been published on our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON). Import permits will now be issued.
The decision to commence imports will be a commercial decision between an exporter in India and an importer in Australia. The importer must meet the import conditions as set out in BICON.
Import conditions have not yet been published for processed ‘ready-to-eat’ pomegranate arils from India.
When we do a risk analysis, we:
- review the science on pests and diseases of concern
- assess and analyse biosecurity risks
- develop proposed risk management measures, if required
- consult the public on the draft report and then review comments
- publish the final report
- verify that the country can meet the import conditions
- develop import conditions
- publish import conditions in our Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).
About the risk analysis
We initiated this risk analysis because India requested market access for fresh pomegranate whole fruit and processed arils from India. Learn more about why we carry out risk analyses and our international obligations.
This risk analysis was conducted in accordance with Section 174 of the Biosecurity Act 2015. This is because we conducted an assessment of the potential quarantine pests associated with fresh pomegranate whole fruit and processed arils from India and have found that:
- the pests of concern are the same, or of the same pest groups, as those pests that have been assessed previously for other horticultural goods
- there are appropriate risk management measures already established for these pests or pest groups.
Final report
Summary of the final report
We recommend that the importation of fresh pomegranate whole fruit and processed ‘ready-to-eat’ arils from India be permitted provided the biosecurity import conditions are met. All imports must come from commercial production areas of India.
Fresh pomegranate whole fruit
Thirteen pests associated with fresh pomegranate whole fruit are present in India, and need risk management measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. These pests are:
- Fruit flies: carambola fruit fly (Bactrocera carambolae), Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) and peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata)
- Scale insect: almond mealybug (Drosicha dalbergiae)
- Mites: pomegranate mite (Tenuipalpus granati) and pomegranate false spider mite (Tenuipalpus punicae)
- Thrips: western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis) and mangosteen thrips (Scirtothrips oligochaetus)
- Mealybugs: grey pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes), papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) and vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus)
- Bacterium: bacterial blight of pomegranate (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae).
Two of the thrips species, western flower thrips and chilli thrips, have been assessed as regulated articles as they are capable of harbouring and spreading emerging tospoviruses that are quarantine pests for Australia. Western flower thrips has been identified as a regional quarantine pest for the Northern Territory because interstate quarantine regulations and enforcement are in place for this species.
The final report recommends a range of measures to reduce the risk of these pests arriving in Australia via the fresh pomegranate whole fruit pathway:
- for fruit flies: area freedom or fruit treatment (such as cold treatment)
- for scale insect, mites, thrips and/or mealybugs: appropriate packing house practices combined with pre-export visual inspection and, if found, remedial action
- for bacterial blight of pomegranate: area freedom or a systems approach approved by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Fresh pomegranate processed arils
Three fruit fly pests associated with pomegranate processed ‘ready-to-eat’ arils are present in India and need risk management measures to reduce the risk to an acceptable level:
- Carambola fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly and peach fruit fly.
The final report recommends three measures to reduce the risk of these pests arriving in Australia via the fresh pomegranate processed arils pathway:
- area freedom, a systems approach approved by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, or fruit treatment.
Download final report
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, June 2020.
If you have difficulty accessing this file, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Trade
Australia-India trade
India is Australia’s eighth largest trading partner with two-way goods and services totalling $30.3 billion in 2018-19.
In 2018–19, Australia imported approximately $45.5 million in fruit, vegetables and tree nuts from India and exported approximately $135 million in fruit, vegetables and tree nuts to India.
Pomegranate industry in India
India is one of the largest producers of pomegranate in the world. Pomegranate is produced throughout the year in India, with the peak season from February to May.
In 2015-16, the total area under pomegranate production was 196,890 hectares. Maharashtra is India’s major pomegranate producing state, accounting for 70.2% of the total area and approximately 66% of total production.
Pomegranate industry in Australia
The Australian Pomegranate Industry is small and is largely focussed on the domestic market. The pomegranate industry has a peak body, the Australian Pomegranate Association, which was formed in November 2017.
Pomegranate is produced in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Commercial varieties grown in Australia include 'Wonderful', 'Azerbaijani', 'Rosavaya', 'The Big Red', 'Jennings', 'Jativa' and 'Griffith'. These varieties are not known to be commercially grown in India.
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For more information, email imports or phone 1800 900 090 (option 1, option 1).