|
|
|
Wednesday, 16 March 2005 Today the Ricegrowers Association of Australia Inc (RGA) joined four other leading plant industries by formally ratifying the world’s first Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) in support of a plan to formalise Australia’s responses to emergency plant pests. The Deed, which will result in faster, more effective and less costly responses to emergency plant pests, has already been signed by four PHA plant industry members and one state government member. The members that have signed are the Grains Council of Australia, CANEGROWERS, Australian Banana Growers’ Council, Apple and Pear Australia Ltd and the South Australian Government. Negotiations on the agreement, coordinated by Plant Health Australia (PHA), began in mid 2001 as part of developing an enhanced national plant pest and disease emergency response system. “We have worked in close partnership with each of our plant industry and government members to develop this world first plant pest eradication funding agreement,” said PHA Chairman Mr Andrew Inglis. “The EPPRD will create a genuine partnership between government and industry as decision making and pest eradication costs will be shared equitably by all parties involved. “PHA welcomes the leadership demonstrated by the RGA. We are delighted with today’s outcome, which is another significant milestone on the road to a crucial industry and government agreement” he said. The EPPRD involves categorising the most serious plant pests for each industry based on the likely environmental, human health, trade, economic and industry impacts. This categorisation process then determines the relative industry and government funding of eradication efforts, based on which sector benefits most from eradicating the pest in question. “The RGA are now part of a process that ensures that funding arrangements are agreed in advance enabling eradication efforts to commence promptly when there is a serious pest outbreak,” said the President Ricegrowers Association, Laurie Arthur. “Any resulting industry liabilities will be underwritten by the Australian Government and repaid over time through an industry activated Emergency Plant Pest Eradication Levy. “It also means that along with other industries, the rice industry will, for the first time, formally participate in the decision making processes involved in managing pest incursion responses,” said Mr Arthur. Owner reimbursement costs, which will be paid to owners of affected crops, provide another important advantage of being a signatory to the Deed. Owner reimbursement costs will include the costs of destroying infected crops, or other items and activities which are above and beyond growers’ normal operational costs and are required as part of a response plan. This will help reduce disincentives to report suspected pest outbreaks and will enable more timely responses with a higher likelihood of successful eradication, and lower costs for both industry and government. It is expected that the deed will soon be formally ratified by all key PHA members, and will come into effect by mid 2005. For more information contact: CONTACT |
NEWS & EVENTS |
    |
© Copyright Ricegrowers' Association of Australia |
