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Northern Australia Food Futures Conference

What is a Biosecurity Emergency

What is a Biosecurity Emergency

Know More

Cấp cứu An toàn Sinh học Là gì?

tìm hiểu thêm

តើអ្វីទៅជាការសង្គ្រោះបន្ទាន់ដល់ជីវ សន្តិសុខ?

ដឹងបន្ថែម

Introduction

A biosecurity emergency happens when significant pests or diseases threaten plants, animals, or the environment. These threats can harm farming, nature, public health, and trade. To prevent them from spreading and causing damage, farmers and the government must work together quickly. For example, when citrus canker was found in the Northern Territory in 2018, authorities set up quarantine zones to stop it from spreading.

Ms. Muy Keav Ma runs a citrus farm with vegetables near Darwin. Her farm was placed under quarantine when citrus canker was found nearby. Even though her farm wasn’t infected, she faced another problem—a house fire destroyed her business documents. Because of this, she couldn’t claim the “Owner Reimbursement Cost” for the financial losses caused by the quarantine. Her story highlights the importance of keeping business records safe and the need for government support during crises.

Emergency Plant Pests

An Emergency Plant Pest (EPP) is a serious plant pest listed in an official document called the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD). When a new plant pest is found, experts follow a plan called PLANTPLAN. This plan gives clear steps on what to do at the national, state, and local levels to handle the pest problem properly.
Since 2005, Plant Health Australia (PHA) has managed the EPPRD. This agreement helps government agencies and industries work together to stop dangerous pests from spreading. It also explains who is responsible for covering the costs of pest control.

PLANTPLAN has three main steps for handling an EPP:

1. Investigation and Alert Phase – Experts gather information and decide what actions are needed. A group called the National Management Group (NMG) assesses the situation. Key questions include:

  • Is the pest an Emergency Plant Pest (EPP)?
  • Can it be contained and removed?
  • Could it spread quickly and harm industries or trade?
  • What damage could it cause to the environment?

Actions taken in this phase:

  • Notifying affected people
  • Confirming if the pest is an EPP through lab tests
  • Setting up quarantine zones
  • Checking farms and other areas for the pest
  •  Creating a response plan

2. Operational Phase – If the NMG approves the response plan, the affected groups must follow it and cover the costs. In this phase:

  • The response plan is carried out
  • Regular reports are given to experts
  • Financial records are kept
  • Tests are done to make sure the pest is gone

3. Stand Down Phase – This phase happens when the response is over, and things return to normal. This can happen if:

  • The pest is not confirmed
  • It’s too difficult or expensive to remove the pest
  • The pest has been successfully removed
  • The pest is still there, but stopping it is no longer possible

NT Farmers acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

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