Biosecurity

Biosecurity is fundamental for safeguarding our valuable agricultural resources against the threat and impacts of pests, weeds and diseases (pests).

Biosecurity is the management of the risk of animal and plant pests and diseases entering, emerging, establishing or spreading in Western Australia, to protect our economy, environment and the community.

To protect Western Australian agricultural industries from pests the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia:

Works with stakeholders to identify and manage biosecurity risks.
Develops legislation.
Establishes import controls.
Conducts inspections.
Provides quarantine services as required.

To find out more about what we do to protect agricultural production and export opportunities within the State please search our website.

Articles

Psa of kiwifruit: Declared pest

27 June 2019

Psa (Pseudomonas syringae pv.
Potato seed certification

20 November 2013

DDLS Seed Testing and Certification is responsible for administering the industry seed potato production schemes in Western Australia.
Banana freckle: biosecurity alert

18 October 2013

Banana freckle was detected in Dwarf Cavendish banana fruit in the Northern Territory in May 2022. The Northern Territory Government is responding to this new detection.
Myrtle rust: Biosecurity alert

8 April 2014

Myrtle rust is a serious disease that infects and kills many plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family including eucalypts, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and peppermint trees.
Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)

15 October 2013

The Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) provides advisory and identification services on animal and plant pests, weeds and diseases that impact Western Australia's agriculture and food ind
Papaya sticky disease: biosecurity alert

16 August 2019

Papaya sticky disease is absent from Western Australia. It has recently been reported from the Northern Territory, after being detected in Queensland in 2014.
Blueberry rust

12 November 2014

Blueberry rust is a fungal disease that affects blueberries and some relatives in the Ericaceae plant family. The disease was detected in Western Australia in April 2022.
Potato spindle tuber viroid: declared pest

9 July 2014

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a declared pest in Western Australia. It can significantly reduce crop yields in potatoes and tomatoes.
Onion smut: declared pest

20 December 2019

Onion smut (Urocystis cepulae) is a disease of onions. This disease is absent from Western Australia.
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus: declared pest

5 April 2019

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a very damaging virus disease of tomato crops in tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, causing losses of up to 100%.