Biosecurity is a general description for a series of measures designed to protect businesses and the nation as a whole from the threats posed by insects and diseases. These pests may originate in other countries or other regions within Australia.
Once a pest is established in one region of Australia it is very hard to contain. The best strategy is to be proactive on a personal and industry level and prevent pest incursions from becoming established.
Good biosecurity systems are critical to:
• Ensure Australia’s food security and safety
• Protect growers productivity
• Maintain market access and protect livelihoods
Minimising the biosecurity risks posed by pests that are new to Australia is a key focus of Plant Industries and Government.
Plant Health Australia is the lead body for plant health in Australia, working in partnership with industry, governments, researchers and others to:
• Provide national coordination to improve biosecurity policy and practices across Australia’s plant industries.
• Build capacity to respond to plant pest emergencies.
A plant pest emergency occurs when a new pest to the country or a region, is discovered. Report all such pests as soon as you suspect that you have found signs of them.
A list notifiable pests can be found on the PHA website.
The attached 4 page fact sheet (pdf 292 kb), describes good biosecurity practices and gives case studies including the 2004 incursion of Currant Lettuce Aphid.
Key Points :
Good biosecurity systems are critical to:
• Maintain Australia’s food security and safety
• Protect your productivity
• Maintain market access and protect your business.
Quarantine is an essential part of biosecurity and protects Australia’s vegetable industry from new pests. However, it does not provide total protection viz. Lettuce Aphid.
BIOSECURITY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS
Industry, government and the community are all responsible for maintaining Australia’s plant health status.
Contact the exotic pest hotline 1800 048 881 if you see anything unusual - early detection and immediate reporting is critical for successful control.
Farm biosecurity entails a set of management practices and activities that are carried out on-farm to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests.
The fact sheet lists some simple things you can do to reduce the threat of new pests entering and establishing on your farm.
You can use simple biosecurity measures to protect your industry by keeping crops free of pests and preventing movement of pests between regions.
You can find easy to use tools to assess risks on your property, and ways to reduce them, on the farm biosecurity website at:
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