Dr Paul PheloungOffice of the Chief Plant Protection

OfficerAustralian Government Department of

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Dr Paul PheloungOffice of the Chief Plant Protection

OfficerAustralian Government Department of

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Pest Risk Analysis in Australia

Pest Risk Analysis in Australia

Roles and ResponsibilitiesRoles and Responsibilities

Department of Health

• Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Department of Health

• Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Department ofEnvironment and

Heritage

Department ofEnvironment and

HeritageDepartment of Agriculture,

Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)

• Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)

• Biosecurity Australia (BA)• Office of the Chief Plant Protection

Officer (OCPPO)

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

(DAFF)• Australian Quarantine and

Inspection Service (AQIS)• Biosecurity Australia (BA)• Office of the Chief Plant Protection

Officer (OCPPO)

Quarantine Act

Environment Protection and

Biodiversity Conservation Act

Gene Technology Act

PRA and WRAPRA and WRA

• Australia uses ISPMs in undertaking PRA of biosecurity risks associated with trade

• Exotic pest = Invasive alien species • Risk = Likelihood of entry x impact• A range of methodologies are suited

to particular scenarios– I will talk about Weed Risk Assessment

(WRA)

• Australia uses ISPMs in undertaking PRA of biosecurity risks associated with trade

• Exotic pest = Invasive alien species • Risk = Likelihood of entry x impact• A range of methodologies are suited

to particular scenarios– I will talk about Weed Risk Assessment

(WRA)

PathwaysPathways

Commodity importsCommodity imports Movement of

peopleMovement of people International

MailInternational Mail Germplasm

importsGermplasmimports

WRAUsed predominantly to assess pest potential of an intended import

WRAUsed predominantly to assess pest potential of an intended import

Movement by natural meansMovement by natural means

Declared weeds(~ 300 species)

Australian borderAustralian border

Exotic Plants(~ 250 000 species)

Barriers to naturalisationBarriers to naturalisation

Legally imported Plants

(~ 30 000 species)

Accidental & illegal introductions

(unknown number)

Barriers to becoming weedyBarriers to becoming weedy

Naturalised Exotic Plants

(~ 2 700 species)

(from Cunningham et al 2003)(from Cunningham et al 2003)

Weed Risk Assessment for Intentional Plant IntroductionsWeed Risk Assessment for Intentional Plant Introductions

PRA issue WRAInitiation Identification of pathway Request is made to

import an organismPathway is certain

Identification of pest Request is made to import an organism

The organism itself is the pest candidate

Pest Risk Assessment Pest categorisation Identity, status in

Australia etcWRA tier 1

Probability of introduction Introduction is certain, including placement in a situation condusive to growth

Probability of establishment !

Probability of spread ! Potential Economic consequences (including environmental impact)

!

Three outcomes: Accept Reject Further evaluate

Pest Risk Management

Weed Elsewhere?Climate suitable?

Highly domesticated?

Undesirable attributes?

Persistent attributes?

Multiple modes ofdispersal?

Multiple modes ofreproduction?

Weedy taxonomicgroup?

RejectReject

AcceptAccept00

66

Weed Risk AssessmentWeed Risk Assessment

Weed Risk Assessments since 1997 (total = 1422)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Accept Reject Further evaluate Incomplete

Salix myrsinifolia High similarityHigh similarity

Low similarityLow similarity

Climate similarity analysisClimate similarity analysis

Salix myrsinifolia

Calibration and ReviewCalibration and Review• The WRA was calibrated by

examining performance for 350 weedy and non weedy exotic species already present in Australia

• The performance after 8 years of operation is currently being reviewed

• The WRA was calibrated by examining performance for 350 weedy and non weedy exotic species already present in Australia

• The performance after 8 years of operation is currently being reviewed

Thank YouThank You