AUSTRALIA S PLANT HEALTH SYSTEM Presented by Lois Ransom Australia s Chief Plant Protection Officer Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Plant Health in Australia Australia s states and territories cover tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean and temperate climatic ecosystems, and therefore distinctive approaches and separate legislation apply in each jurisdiction. A national approach to the management of plant health in Australia is maintained through the national committees framework, governments, Plant Health Australia and industry.
Plant Health in Australia (cont) A holistic focus on pre-border, border and post-border management activities is needed to effectively combat the threat of plant pests. Biosecurity is a whole of community responsibility: involving government, industry and the wider public.
Biosecurity Continuum Post - Border Pre-Border Border Environment Community Farm / Industry Market Access & Sustainable Production Plant Health Status
Partners in Plant Health Australian Government State/Territory Governments Peak Plant Industry Bodies CRC National Plant Biosecurity Plant Health Australia Working together to deliver the plant health system we need to support trade, sustainable production and protection of our environment
Roles and Responsibilities Australian Government Responsible for quarantine and international plant health matters, including pest reporting, export certification and trade negotiation. Advises on and coordinates national policy including emergency response and, under some circumstances, provides financial assistance for national plant pest control programs. Within the Australian Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry the Biosecurity Services Group undertakes these responsibilities: Biosecurity Australia pre-border Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service border Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer postborder
Roles and Responsibilities (cont) State and Territory Governments In conjunction with plant industry sectors they are responsible for domestic quarantine, pest control and eradication within their own boundaries. Within their jurisdiction they manage interstate certification arrangements endemic pests, diagnostic services, surveillance activities and state legislation emergency response as lead agency in the case of an Emergency Plant Pest (EPP) Incursion Communications, awareness and education
Roles and Responsibilities (cont) Peak Plant Industry Bodies Coordinate national industry policy Liaise with Biosecurity Australia on import/export policy Liaise with State/Territory agencies on interstate trading arrangements including regulation Fund diagnostic development, industry surveillance Participate in emergency responses affecting their industry
Roles and Responsibilities (cont) CRC National Plant Biosecurity Horticulture Australia Ltd Contribute to national biosecurity research focussing on agreed national priorities a collaborative approach to national research and development priorities across jurisdictions, sectors and institutions long-term approaches that mitigate the risk, and impact of agreed national priority target organisms identifying critical biosecurity issues for risk management including science, social research and economics.
Roles and Responsibilities (cont) Plant Health Australia Custodians of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) Primary focus on emergency preparedness and response Industry liaison: EPPRD implementation and operations consistent with the Deed Biosecurity commitments: Planning industry biosecurity plans Preparedness/mitigation biosecurity programs Training contact points Awareness
National Policy Arrangements Council of Australian Governments (COAG) NRMSC FFPC Ministerial Councils National Biosecurity Committee Primary Industries Standing Committee AHC VPC AAHC Plant Health Committee EBC AWC (PHC) Surveillance Reference Group (SRG) Domestic Quarantine and Market Access WG (DQMAWG) Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostic Standards (SPHDS) Certification Services Working Group (CSWG) Fruit Fly Working Group (FFWG) Quarantine Domestic WG (QDWG)
NATIONAL INITIATIVES
National Fruit Fly Strategy Draft strategy released 2008 Draft Implementation Action Plan released for comment 2009 15 projects identified: National data sheets; industry biosecurity plan; diagnostic standards/networks; integrated surveillance; info portal; standards for disinfestation treatments; management systems; PFA, ALPP & PFPP for market access Mapping status Maintain Torres St detection & eradication programs Systems approaches for market access Harmonisation of interstate certification arrangements Provision of market access info R&D priorities Coordinated awareness/communications
National Plant Health Strategy Develop a national strategy providing direction for plant health sector for next ten years (at least?) Incorporates all areas of national plant health system & involve all stakeholders that have shared responsibility & commitment to Australia s plant health status Links to the government agreement on biosecurity Sub-strategies Diagnostics Surveillance Information management
BioSIRT Biosecurity Surveillance Incident Response & Tracing Spatial & textual, web based software application, developed to enable better management of information & resources in emergency responses across animal or plant diseases, pests & incursions Developed in conjunction with Australian & state/territory governments for more effective & nationally coordinated approach in response to emergency incidents & routine activities Will be used by each jurisdiction for managing emergency & routine incidents - will enable information (eg location of disease detection) to be quickly exchanged between jurisdictions to facilitate coordinated response with national consistency in recording, reporting & managing emergency incidents
The National Plant Health Status Report National Plant Health Status Report Consolidated snapshot of Australia s 07/08plant health system (published 2009 and 2010) Provides information on plant pests of concern organisations and processes innovative plant health research projects Identifies 200+ high priority pests Highlights surveillance programs PHA website
PaDIL Pests and Diseases Image Library www.padil.gov.au Now has 4 different products on one site - will grow to 9 in 2010 Now: Pests and Diseases; Barrow Island; Pollinators; Plant Biosecurity Toolbox To come in 2010: Remote Microscope Diagnostics; Contingency plans; MAF Pacific Islands Virtual Pest Collection; Biosecurity Bank; Bowerbird Image Library
QUESTIONS?? Achieving Biosecurity Outcomes Through Partnerships