Closed: consultation has now concluded

We will now consider all comments in preparing the final risk analysis report.

About this risk analysis

We are conducting a risk analysis for the proposed release of the rust fungus Puccinia spegazzinii into Australia. The purpose of this release is to control the weed Mikania micrantha.

The use of exotic biological control agents to control invertebrate pests, weeds and other organisms has been common in Australia for many years. Releasing pathogenic, herbivorous, predatory or parasitic organisms into the Australian environment can have potential “off-target” risks. This means risk to other plants or invertebrate animals not targeted by the biological control agent.

We began this risk analysis in response to an application to release Puccinia spegazzinii to control Mikania micrantha. The application was submitted by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (QDAF).

We have released a draft report, which:

• estimates off-target risks and potential consequences of the release
• evaluates the risk to be Negligible, which achieves Australia’s appropriate level of protection (ALOP)
• proposes the release of the biological control agent Puccinia spegazzinii.

Submissions on the draft report closed on 12 February 2020.