Protocol for biological control agents

 

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Reporting Obligation

• Legislation: Phytosanitary Requirements/Restrictions/Prohibitions

Publication Date

15-12-2016

Last Updated

15-12-2016

Short Description

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources conducts assessments for release of invertebrate or plant pathogenic biological control agents (which includes host specificity testing) for the control of weeds and plant pests. The assessment is conducted as one of the suite of risk analyses under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Assessment of applications for the release of novel biological control agents take into account the guidelines provided by relevant International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), in particular ISPM 2, 3 and 11. As part of the risk analysis process for assessing the release of novel biological control agents into the Australian environment, stakeholders and interested parties are provided with an opportunity to comment on release applications. For many years novel biological control agents have been imported into Australia to control weeds and invertebrate plant pests. There is inherent risk associated with the release of novel pathogenic, herbivorous, predatory or parasitic organisms into the Australian environment. As such, Australia needs to be assured that the introduced organisms do not significantly affect species other than the approved target. Targets for novel biological control agents, such as specific weeds or invertebrate pests of plants, must continue to be approved by the appropriate ministerial council. Biological control agents are subject to separate regulation by the Department of the Environment and Energy as well other subnational regulations depending on which jurisdiction the novel biological control agent is being released in.

Contact for Info

Plant Biosecurity GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia [email protected]

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