National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy

While Australia has a comprehensive biosecurity system, protecting the citrus industry from exotic pests remains a continual challenge. Effective pest surveillance maximises the likelihood of the early detection of new and emerging pests and provides data on pest distribution and pest absence to support trade.

The National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy has been developed to provide a framework for national coordination and implementation of surveillance activities carried out by government and industry for exotic citrus pests and pests of market access concern.

The strategy outlines improved pre-border and border risk and pathway assessment to better understand and target surveillance efforts. For post-border surveillance, it describes an enhanced partnership approach of industry, government and community in a national program. Surveillance systems will be supported by diagnostic tools and triage networks, and data collection and reporting methods will enable surveillance efforts to be captured, monitored and improved.

Funding for the development of this strategy comes from the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government’s plan for stronger farmers and a stronger economy.


National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy Implementation Plan

The principles of the National Citrus Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy are to maximise efficiencies of surveillance efforts by integrating and connecting surveillance amongst stakeholders. This integration will include development and use of diagnostic tools and triage networks, and surveillance which combines crop monitoring for established pests of production concern with surveillance for high priority exotic pests.

There are four program areas:

  1. Improved partnerships through coordination and collaboration
  2. Enhanced capability and capacity to undertake citrus biosecurity surveillance
  3. Smart surveillance through risk assessment, tools and diagnostics to support detection of citrus pests
  4. Improved capture and analysis of citrus pest surveillance data.

Download the Implementation Plan


Related information

National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy

Surveillance programs

AUSPestCheck

Citrus industry page