BioSecure HACCP on show at 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium 

By Gabrielle Stannus

Plant Health Australia, the Invasive Species Council, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and Animal Health Australia hosted the 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium on 3-5 May on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The symposium’s theme was ‘A decade of biosecurity: turning a moment into a movement’, and Greenlife Industry Australia’s (GIA) National Biosecurity Manager, John McDonald presented on ‘BioSecure HACCP: Plant protection & market access’.  

BioSecure HACCP is the greenlife industry’s own integrated plant protection and biosecurity system for high health plant production. The program provides the essential processes and procedures for growers implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system.  It is also the first, and only, non-government plant market access system in Australia, and is recognised by State and Territory governments. BioSecure HACCP is highly respected by its peers, having been awarded an Australian Biosecurity Award in 2015 as the industry category winner.  

What is BioSecure HACCP? 

BioSecure HACCP is the national nursery industry high health plant protection and biosecurity program for production nurseries, growing media manufacturers and greenlife markets. BioSecure HACCP forms part of the Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS), along with the Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia (NIASA) and EcoHort. The program is designed to assist businesses to assess their current and future endemic and exotic pest, disease and weed risks and apply appropriate measures to reduce their impact. It provides all the necessary procedures and systems information to successfully implement a truly integrated pest management (IPM) program across the cropping system. 

The BioSecure HACCP program is framed on the principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) which is a world recognised systematic and preventive approach to risk management addressing hazards through information, anticipation and prevention, rather than end-product inspection and testing.  

Why should my business adopt BioSecure HACCP? 

BioSecure HACCP growers receive between 3%-5% annual productivity gains (average annual gain $75K) and consistently have more available stock for sale. These savings are realised through an integrated IPM program which results in reduced labour in pest management, reduced pesticide applications (which are more efficacious when they are used) and improved efficacy of beneficial organism releases.  The system allows the business to monitor activities and ensure processes and actions are allocated, undertaken and reported on.  

Another feature of the program is that as a high health plant producer you may wish to take advantage of the market access privileges afforded to certified businesses.  The BioSecure HACCP program is linked to a fully automated and web-based Audit Management System (AMS) for growers (record keeping, staff job tasking and reports), government (co-regulation) and GIA (auditing). 

BioSecure HACCP certified growers can store data, including completed records, retrieve data in reports, and client information securely on the AMS. Each grower has a protected business folder in AMS with restricted access. The AMS includes an eCertification function, generating BioSecure HACCP Biosecurity Certificates to enable interstate plant movement. Auditors and biosecurity agencies have tiered access to the AMS to verify growers’ compliance with relevant biosecurity legislation. 

GIA also negotiates market access for growers via Entry Condition Compliance Procedures (ECCPs). BioSecure HACCP Certified production nurseries can implement specific ECCPs for pests of quarantine concern and self-certify consignments for interstate trade through the AMS.  

GIA has developed the following ECCPs which have been submitted and approved by the receiving jurisdiction/s. 

• Blueberry rust (VIC & TAS) 

• Melon thrips (SA) 

• Spiralling whitefly (NSW & VIC) 

• Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (NSW & VIC) 

• Red imported fire ants (NSW, VIC & SA) 

• Green snail (NSW, NT, VIC, SA & TAS) 

• Citrus red mite (NSW & VIC) 

• Myrtle rust (SA) 

• Potato cyst nematode (SA & QLD) 

• Pyriform scale (QLD, NSW & VIC) 

• Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (SA) 

• Regulated & unwanted quarantine pests (TAS) 

BioSecure HACCP provides a set of guidelines that can provide your business with methods to identify plant protection and biosecurity risks and implement controls at critical points within your business system. These guidelines contain a set of protocols and validated procedures that enable a business to manage plant pest and biosecurity risks by establishing effective internal systems and processes to improve plant pest management.  

These procedures can be found in BioSecure HACCP Guidelines for Managing Biosecurity in Nursery Production, available as a downloadable PDF through the APPS website. These guidelines contain 43 procedures including the following: 

• Growing media storage procedure 

• Growing media production procedure

• Growing media quality procedure

• Fertiliser storage procedure

• Cleaning & disinfestation 

• Visitor procedure 

• Incoming plant quarantine 

• Pest, disease & weed monitoring 

• Site surveillance procedure 

• Despatch inspection procedure 

• Growing media disinfestation procedure 

• Sticky trap use procedure 

• Indicator plant monitoring procedure 

• Insect proof facility procedure 

The BioSecure HACCP program also contains 26 digitised record templates to help your business manage critical areas and demonstrate due diligence across the cropping system. These include the following: 

• Approved Supplier Register 

• Materials Import Inspection Record 

• Material Despatch Inspection Record 

• Register of Authorised Inspection Persons 

• Register of Authorised Person Record 

• Register of Certification Signatory(s) Record 

• Visitor Record 

• Vehicle Inspection Record 

• Corrective Action Report 

• Equipment Calibration Register 

• Calibration Record 

• Crop monitoring Record 

• Site Surveillance Record 

• Weed Monitoring Record 

So how can my business become certified under BioSecure HACCP? 

To gain BioSecure HACCP certification, your business must first be NIASA accredited and then undergo two independent audits on an annual basis to ensure the integrity of your BioSecure HACCP program is maintained over time. Once BioSecure HACCP certified, your business will have formal recognition of its commitment to managing on-farm plant protection and biosecurity. It also assists your business to meet its broader biosecurity obligations and improve your overall pest, disease and weed management systems.   

Who can help me? 

For more information on creating a sustainable future for your business by implementing BioSecure HACCP, please contact GIA via biosecure@greenlifeindusttry.com.au.  

Alternatively, contact the relevant Plant Protection Officer (PPO) in your state or territory to organise an appointment. Our PPOs provide technical assistance on-farm to growers across Australia, helping you to plan and prioritise actions according to best management practice whilst recognising your current on-farm processes. 

• Queensland/Northern NSW: Barry Naylor, barry.naylor@greenlifeindustry.com.au   

• New South Wales/Northern West Victoria: Emma De Landre, emma.delandre@greenlifeindustry.com.au 

• Victoria: Kimberley Thomas, kimberley.thomas@greenlifeindustry.com.au 

• Western Australia/Northern Territory: Steve Blyth, steve.blyth@greenlifeindustry.com.au  

• Tasmania and South Australia: Celeste Cook, celeste.cook@greenlifeindustry.com.au   

The ‘National biosecurity and sustainable plant production program’ (NY20001) project is funded by Hort Innovation using nursery research and development levy and funds from the Australian Government.