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

Spider mite pests of Western Australian plants

9 October 2013

Mites of the Tetranychidae family (commonly known as spider mites) include some important pests of economic concern to agriculture and forestry.
Potato seed certification

20 November 2013

DDLS Seed Testing and Certification is responsible for administering the industry seed potato production schemes in Western Australia.
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%.
Late blight of potato and tomato: declared pest

4 April 2019

Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is considered the most devastating disease of potatoes worldwide and caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s.
Bacterial wilt of potato: declared pest

29 March 2019

Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) is a serious disease of potatoes that can cause crop losses of more than 90%.
Potato Virus Y tuber necrosis strain: declared pest

4 April 2019

Potato virus Y tuber necrosis strain (PVY^NTN) causes a serious disease of potatoes called potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease which results in dark unsightly rings on tubers.
Onion rust: declared pest

11 April 2019

Onion rust (Puccinia allii) is a disease of plants in the onion family, including onions, garlic, chives, spring onions and leeks.
Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum

8 May 2017

Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum is a bacterial plant pathogen that is exotic to Australia. Currently five haplotypes have been described: haplotypes A and B from solanaceous crops suc