The Background Problem
Quarantine and plant health are critical to the economic, social and
environmental well-being of Australia.
- Australia’s existing taxonomic expertise is declining and aging.
- From a plant health and quarantine perspective, this brings an increasing
risk that incursions will go unrecognised or be diagnosed too late to be
contained.
- Molecular diagnostics (targeted DNA probes instead of a museum-based
taxonomist) has merits, but is not the complete answer, particularly for initial
diagnostic screening, heightening industry/public awareness and education.
- Each day AQIS inspectors collect hundreds of exotic intercepts. All require
immediate determinations as to whether or not to release, fumigate or destroy
the affected cargo.
- These time and money decisions have major impacts on our import and export
effectiveness.
About PaDIL - Background
