Consultation on panel, scope and timing for mushrooms
Letter as sent to stakeholders on 24 February 1999.
DG23/T98/923
Dear Stakeholder
IMPORT RISK ANALYSIS PROCESS - FRESH EDIBLE CULTIVATED AND WILD COLLECTED MUSHROOMS
My letter of 10 December 1998 advised you of the decision to proceed with the Import Risk Analysis (IRA) for fresh edible cultivated and wild collected mushrooms using the non-routine process.
AQIS now invites stakeholders to comment on the proposed membership of the Risk Analysis Panel (RAP). The composition of the panel reflects a balance between members with experience and expertise in quarantine risk analysis who are aware of international obligations and responsibilities, and members drawn from scientific organisations, State departments, private consultancy firms, or qualified members of the public. Members are selected because of their scientific expertise and not as representatives of any particular organisation, sector or industry and are independent of any particular commercial interest.
The proposed panel is:
Dr Brian Stynes (Chair)
Assistant Director
Plant Quarantine Policy Branch
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Louise van Meurs
Manager, Market Access
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Plant Quarantine Policy Branch
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
Kenneth Old
Assistant Chief of Division
CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products
Dr J M Cullen
Acting Chief
CSIRO Division of Entomology
A précis of the curriculum vitae of each member is at Attachment 1 (not available electronically). Other scientific experts nominated by stakeholders will be considered as possible members of working groups, if required, to assist the panel.
It is estimated that the risk analysis will take approximately 18 months to complete. If there are no unanticipated delays, we would expect a draft Issues Paper to be circulated in April 1999. The Draft IRA Paper is likely to be released for consideration and comment by August 1999. Stakeholders will be kept informed of any significant delays or variations to the proposed timeframe.
You are invited to comment on the proposed panel membership, the scope and timing of the IRA. Your comments will be taken into consideration when AQIS finalises its position on these issues at the end of the consultation period. AQIS will accept written submissions until the close of business on Friday 26 March 1999. Responses should be forwarded to:
Import Risk Analysis Secretariat
Plant Quarantine Policy Branch
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Ph: 02 6272 5094
Fax: 02 6272 3307
Email: plantbiosec@affa.gov.au
Subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988, all submissions received with respect to the review will be publicly available and be listed or referred to in papers or reports prepared in the review. If a request for anonymity does not accompany a submission, the respondent will be taken to have consented to the disclosure of his or her identity for the purposes of the Privacy Act. The contents of a submission will not be treated as confidential unless they are marked 'confidential' and they are capable of being classified as such in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
If you wish to add a particular stakeholder to our distribution list for this IRA, or if you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please provide details to the Import Risk Analysis Secretariat at the above address.
We look forward to receiving your input.
Yours sincerely
Sarah Kahn
Acting Director
Policy and International Division
24 February 1999