Pest categorisation process

The categorisation process consists of 2 phases:

categorisation-process

The Categorisation Group determines the category

This is based on all available information and a decision must be made by consensus. The group assess the pest based on the degree of impact it is likely to have on productivity, product quality, production cost, economy and trade, environment and amenity values and human health in Australia.

The following diagram illustrates the pest categorisation process.

Categorisation process initiated

Will it cause major damage to the environment and to natural ecosystems if not eradicated?
OR
Will it affect human health or cause major nuisance to humans?
OR
Will it cause major damage to parks and lands and amenity values?

YES
Will it impose major costs on plant industries which would benefit from eradication? NO
→YES
Category 1

 

Category 2
↓NO
Will it cause major disruptions to trade and/or major adverse consequences for national or regional economies? YES
Implies that the industry would be seriously affected YES
Category 2
↓NO
Will the incursion mainly affect the industries concerned:

  • through increased control and production costs?
  • through moderate market or trade effects?
YES
Are these moderate public cost implications:

  • for the environment?
  • for trade and/or some regional communities?
  • for amenity values?
YES
Category 3
↓NO ↓NO
Not an emergency plant pest and therefore the EPPRD does not apply
 Category 4

The relevant parties approve the category

Relevant parties include those who will be involved in the cost sharing arrangements in the event of an incursion. Once agreed, the emergency plant pest is included in Schedule 13 of the EPPRD.

Who is in the Categorisation Group?

The Categorisation Group is made up of industry and government representatives with relevant technical and economic expertise. Plant Health Australia chairs the deliberations and also provides the standing member for industry and the secretariat roles for the group.