Our biosecurity system is about minimising the risk to Tasmanian primary industries and our environment from introduced pests and diseases.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There's no such thing as "zero risk" because as long as there's movement across Bass Strait, there is always at least some risk of a pest or disease hitching a ride.
Our biosecurity system operates under a nationally and internationally recognised concept of Appropriate Level of Protection, which allows for trade and movement provided there's "very low risk" to our biosecurity.
Activities which meet the standard for being "very low risk" are allowed to occur because the risk is managed to an appropriate level.
This approach underpins our trade system and our imports and exports that are vital for all Australians.
Trade is a two-way street. Tasmanian exporters need to prove that their products meet the quality and biosecurity standards expected by our trading partners. Likewise, our trading partners need to ensure that their produce represents a "very low risk" to our biosecurity.
We can require many things to be done by suppliers to achieve the standard of "very low risk". We can require various forms of treatment before a product arrives, and we can also require suppliers to have certified evidence that the import is from an area known to be free from pests and diseases.
Achieving the strict requirements for issuing area of freedom certification provides evidence that all biosecurity requirements for a particular pest or disease have been met.
This was the case in the situation of South Australian potatoes which have recently been the subject of discussion among farmers and other stakeholders, and is a matter that we continue to engage with industry on.
In this situation, the South Australian Government provided valid Area Freedom Certificates which demonstrated South Australia was free of Potato Cyst Nematode and Bacterial Wilt.
This met our import requirements for these two biosecurity risks, and a biosecurity-based, conditional permit was granted.
The decision to grant this conditional permit was recently reviewed by an independent expert, who found that the decision and the reasons behind it were technically sound and justified.
Tasmania relies on these same Area Freedom Certificates to export our own potatoes interstate.
When we meet the standards of other states, we expect the trade and biosecurity agreements to be upheld.
Similar strict biosecurity measures help to manage Queensland fruit fly, which is an ever- present risk at our borders.
A range of treatments are required for fruit fly host produce coming from areas with fruit fly, and our highly qualified and experienced biosecurity staff are central to minimising these risks once the produce arrives into the State for inspection.
Our strong biosecurity protocols give us confidence that it is highly likely that a biosecurity risk would be detected if it were present. Any suspect produce can then be promptly investigated and identified.
Within our border, the surveillance continues for any evidence of the presence of pests and diseases.
For example, Biosecurity Tasmania has a network of more than 1000 traps throughout the state that are inspected regularly for the presence of fruit fly.
This surveillance program also provides crucial evidence of freedom to our trading partners and is a vital early detection system for pest and disease incursions.
Biosecurity Tasmania works to a very high standard in protecting Tasmania from pests and diseases. We all have a role in maintaining our biosecurity, and our very capable biosecurity staff work closely with the community to put into practice the rules and regulations that underpin our biosecurity system.
This is critical to the Tasmanian brand and keeping our primary industries, our economy and our environment biosecurity safe.
- Dr Lloyd Klumpp is the general manager of Biosecurity Tasmania.
Sign up to one of our newsletters: