Post-border WSSV testing from 2016 to 2017 found that 88 per cent of marinated batches and 64 per cent of unprocessed batches were positive—an overall failure rate of 74 per cent for targeted and randomly selected post-border batches of uncooked prawns (Table 13). Product tested included purchases from retail outlets during Operation Cattai and product identified by department staff investigating the WSD outbreak and implementing the post-border withdrawal program in 2017. All of this product had been imported before the import suspension and was either on sale at retail outlets or in storage in the domestic supply chain awaiting sale. Map 7 Retail food outlets in the River area, November 2017 Note: Indicates only outlets identified by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. Source: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Table 12 Post-suspension WSSV testing of uncooked imported prawns in the domestic supply chain, January–October 2017 Business category Sites Date product Estimated Type of Batches WSSV-positive targeted removed from initial volume prawns tested (no.) batches (no.) (no.) domestic supply (tonnes) chain Retail and distribution centres national 156 6 January, 307 Unprocessed 47 33 food/grocery retail 17 February, Marinated 0 0 chains and targeted 3 2017 Total 47 33 retail outlets Approved arrangement approved under 238 15 and 1,975 Unprocessed 206 101 the Biosecurity Act February 2017 Marinated 240 207 2015 capable of storing 446 308 uncooked imported prawns Non-approved arrangement sites Targeted freezers 131 26 May 2017 232 Unprocessed 16 8 Marinated 13 10 Total 29 18 Retail/wholesaler verification Unannounced targeted 247 Directions to na Unprocessed 125 95 inspections at sites that secure product Marinated 89 86 purchased part of issued on the spot Total 214 181 WSSV-infected batch of from April to prawns August 2017 (majority in April) 772 na 2,514 736 540 – na Not applicable. Source: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Post-border WSSV testing from 2016 to 2017 found that 88 per cent of marinated batches and 64 per cent of unprocessed batches were positive—an overall failure rate of 74 per cent for targeted and randomly selected post-border batches of uncooked prawns (Table 13). Product tested included purchases from retail outlets during Operation Cattai and product identified by department staff investigating the WSD outbreak and implementing the post-border withdrawal program in 2017. All of this product had been imported before the import suspension and was either on sale at retail outlets or in storage in the domestic supply chain awaiting sale. Map 7 Retail food outlets in the River area, November 2017 Note: Indicates only outlets identified by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. Source: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Table 12 Post-suspension WSSV testing of uncooked imported prawns in the domestic supply chain, January–October 2017 Business category Sites targeted (no.) Date product removed from domestic supply chain Estimated initial volume (tonnes) Type of prawns Batches tested (no.) WSSV-positive batches (no.) Retail and distribution centres national food/grocery retail chains and targeted retail outlets 156 6 January, 17 February, 3 2017 307 Unprocessed 47 33 Marinated 0 0 Total 47 33 Approved arrangement approved under the Biosecurity Act 2015 capable of storing uncooked imported prawns 238 15 and February 2017 1,975 Unprocessed 206 101 Marinated 240 207 446 308 Non-approved arrangement sites Targeted freezers 131 26 May 2017 232 Unprocessed 16 8 Marinated 13 10 Total 29 18 Retail/wholesaler verification Unannounced targeted inspections at sites that purchased part of WSSV-infected batch of prawns 247 Directions to secure product issued on the spot from April to August 2017 (majority in April) na Unprocessed 125 95 Marinated 89 86 Total 214 181 772 na 2,514 – 736 540 na Not applicable. Source: Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
review-report-uncooked-prawn-imports.docx