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In 2000 black widow spiders were detected in several shipments of imported grapes from California. This prompted a risk assessment being undertaken and import controls being applied. The controls included an import health standard for table grapes that contained pre- and post-border measures to manage the risk from venomous spiders.
The risk assessment has now been updated. It assesses the potential human health risks from both:
(i) encountering spiders in table grapes, and
(ii) establishment of these spiders in New Zealand.
The main changes from the original health risk assessment include updating the references, noting the presence of redback spiders in New Zealand (limited to Central Otago), and updating recommended treatment advice (antivenom is no longer routinely recommended). It also updates the countries which export grapes to New Zealand, and interception data showing the efficacy of current import controls.
The updated health risk assessment finds that, based on the low level of post-border detection of these species, current pre-border methods are sufficient to prevent the introduction of venomous spiders associated with imported table groups.