An Invasive Risk Assessment Framework for New Animal and Plant-based Production Industries RIRDC Publication No. 11/141 RIRDCInnovation for rural Australia An Invasive Risk Assessment Framework for New Animal and Plant-based Production Industries by Dr Robert C Keogh February 2012 RIRDC Publication No. 11/141 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-007347 © 2012 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-74254-320-8 ISSN 1440-6845 An Invasive Risk Assessment Framework for New Animal and Plant-based Production Industries Publication No. 11/141 Project No. PRJ-007347 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165. Researcher Contact Details Dr Robert C Keogh Pachyrhizi Consulting Pty Ltd, 62/3 Park Avenue, CRAWLEY, WA 6009 Phone: 08 9386 4410 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Electronically published by RIRDC in February 2012 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313 ii Foreword Poor biosecurity management that results in the introduction, establishment and spread of weeds pests and diseases adds costs to and threatens market access for Australia’s rural industries. The development of new animal or plant based rural industries carries the risk that the subject organisms, once within Australia, might become weeds or pests and/or be the agents for the introduction or spread of other pests, weeds or diseases. Part of RIRDC’s mandate is to support research and development for new rural industries. Therefore, RIRDC has a particular responsibility to ensure that activities which it supports do not result in Australia’s biosecurity status being compromised. Biosecurity planning and management based on science-based risk assessment processes focuses the commitment of available resources on areas of greater threat, or opportunity. The understanding and application of risk-based assessment processes to weed and pest management is well advanced in Australia. RIRDC has the opportunity to use this knowledge and experience to assist in the discharge of its responsibility to ensure that activities which it supports do not contribute to the introduction or spread of pest, weeds and diseases to the detriment of Australia’s rural industries and environmental values. The “An invasive risk assessment framework New Animal and Plant-based Production Industries” that has been developed as part of this study accesses existing information to provide RIRDC, and researchers seeking support from RIRDC, with a simple-to-use process for determining the acceptability of the plant or animal subject of the research from a biosecurity standpoint. It is recommended that RIRDC incorporate the model proposed here into its research proposal and evaluation processes. By doing so RIRDC would, first, reduce the risk of adverse biosecurity outcomes arising from research activities it supports, and, second, increase awareness of the importance of sound biosecurity management within RIRDC and the research community it supports. This study was commissioned and funded by RIRDC and is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2100 research publications. It forms part of our New Animal Products R&D program, which aims to accelerate the development of viable new animal industries. Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. Craig Burns Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgements Advice and information provided by David Dall, John Thorp, Mary Bomford, Kim James and Daniel Keogh is gratefully acknowledged. Abbreviations AHA Animal Health Australia APAS Australian Pest Animal Strategy AQIS Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service BSE Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy CISEH Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia (USA) DAFF (Australian) Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry DEWR (Australian) Department of Environment Water and Rivers GRDC Grains Research and Development Corporation GVP Gross Value of Production ISSG Invasive Species Specialist Group MLA Meat and Livestock Australia NRMMC Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council NRMSC Natural Resource Management Standing Committee NFF National Farmers Federation PHA Plant Health Australia PRA Pest Risk Assessment SPS (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement VDPI Victorian Department of Primary Industries VPC Vertebrate Pests Committee WONS Weeds of National Significance WRA Weed Risk Assessment WRM Weed Risk Management process WTO World Trade Organisation iv Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... iv Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................ iv Executive Summary............................................................................................................................. vii Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Australia’s biosecurity status ............................................................................................................ 1 RIRDC’s exposures and obligations ................................................................................................. 8 Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 9 Biosecurity Risk Assessment .............................................................................................................. 10 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Risk-based assessment models........................................................................................................ 11 Weeds .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Implications .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Recommendations................................................................................................................................ 25 Appendices ........................................................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A. The pre-border Australian Weed Risk Assessment system ............................. 26 Appendix B. Score sheet for Australian Bird and Mammal risk assessment model for assigning VPC threat category (Bomford 2008) .............................................. 27 Appendix C. Database of Potential Pest Animals for use in the "Process for determining the biosecurity status of the subject organisms of RIRDC research proposals" .......................................................................................... 28 Appendix D. Established Commercial Species in Australia ................................................ 84 Appendix E. Examples of completed Biosecurity Status Assessment Checklists ................ 85 Appendix E1. Completed Biosecurity Status Assessment Checklist – Barbados