Potential Biosecurity Risks Associated with Poppy Straw and Pellet Importation

This report has been prepared by the Tasmania Institute of Agriculture upon the request of Poppy Growers Tasmania (PGT). The purpose of the report is to provide independent scientific information to PGT in response to Biosecurity Advice 2016/08 issued by the Australian Government. This advice outlines the proposed conditions for the import into Australia of poppy straw and pellets from Turkey, Hungary and Portugal for processing. The aims of this report were to identify potential biosecurity risks to the Australian opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) industry and provide details of the current scientific knowledge surrounding those risks. Potential pests considered include pestiferous and virus‐vectoring insects. Diseases considered include fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens of opium poppy. A simplistic climate comparison between Tasmania and the proposed regions of export has been provided for reference.