Senator O'Brien asked the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 18 August 1999:

(1) When did the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) commence the process of establishing a panel to oversee the risk assessment of imported uncooked chicken meat.

(2) (a) When was the panel established; (b) who is on the panel; (c) what are the qualifications of panel members; and (d) what process was followed to select panel members.

(3) Who has been appointed to chair the panel.

(4) (a) How advanced is the uncooked chicken meat risk assessment process; and (b) what is the estimated completion time for each of the remaining steps in the process as set out in the AQIS Risk Assessment Handbook.

Senator Alston (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) commenced the import risk analysis (IRA) for uncooked chicken meat in December 1998.

(2) and (3) AQIS will shortly consult stakeholders on the membership of the Risk Analysis Panel (RAP).

(4) (a) After consultation with stakeholders AQIS has decided that the non-routine approach be followed for this risk analysis and is in the process of selecting members for the RAP.

(b) The RAP, when formed, will develop a work program. If the RAP identifies a requirement for external technical inputs, there may be consequences for the timing of the various stages of the IRA. Without prejudging the RAP's consideration of its work program, AQIS anticipates that the issues paper will be released in December 1999, the draft IRA paper in May 2000 and the final recommendations brought forward for consideration by the Executive Director of AQIS in October 2000.