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Plant disease rules tackled
6 May 2004
Australia's plant research institutes will be subject to quarantine standards, which have been developed following the discovery of wheat streak mosaic virus and Scotch broom rust fungus last year at CSIRO and other institutes. The standards, expected to be in place by mid-2005, will cover procedures, skill levels and physical structures that all institutes will have to adopt to manage pest and disease risks when importing, handling and transferring plant material for research.
The standards are based on the findings of the July 2003 Radcliffe review of plant research biosecurity protocols.The review concluded that standards were variable between institutes and also said the processes for handling plant disease and pest incursions were not as well developed as those for livestock.
Individual plant and horticulture industries are also formulating their own biosecurity plans.
Weekly Times, 5/5/04, page 8.
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