Plant Health Committee (PHC)

The PHC is a sectoral committee under the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC).

The Committee is the peak government plant biosecurity policy and decision-making forum. It endorses national policies, supports national plans and programs, and provides strategic policy, technical and regulatory advice to the NBC on national plant biosecurity matters.

The activities PHC and its subcommittees lead help maintain a robust plant health system.

 

Purpose

The PHC provides national leadership and expert advice to manage plant biosecurity risks. The Committee works with partners to develop and deliver plant biosecurity policy and programs, which helps maintain Australia’s plant health status. This supports our industries, economy and environment, and reduces the impacts of pests and diseases.

The PHC:

  • puts national plant biosecurity strategies into action
  • delivers priority reforms set by the NBC
  • develops clear, consistent plant biosecurity policies based on science and risk
  • sets standards and helps governments and industry implement plant biosecurity policies and deliver plant biosecurity programs
  • supports safe domestic trade in plants and plant products
  • advises on current and emerging plant biosecurity issues, including pest and disease responses
  • guides investment in plant biosecurity research and development
  • works closely with states, territories, industry bodies and other committees to align collective efforts
  • identifies the skills and resources needed to achieve national plant biosecurity goals.

Priorities

PHC’s activities are guided by national strategies and the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB).

PHC has five strategic priorities under its Strategic Plan (2024-27):

  1. ‘Team Biosecurity’ – stronger partnerships and working together to create a shared biosecurity culture.
  2. ‘Future fit’ – ensuring we are prepared for the future by developing a highly skilled workforce and coordinating pest preparedness and response activities.
  3. ‘Sustainable Investment’ – securing the system with long-term funding.
  4. ‘Optimised plant trade’ – reducing impediments to maintaining and growing domestic market access.
  5. ‘Efficient systems’ – integration supported by technology, research, data, and improved processes.

These strategic priorities align with the:

The PHC develops work plans based on these strategic priorities that recognises the need to balance transformative activities with maintenance of the system.

Membership and meetings

PHC members include the:

  • Chief Plant Health Managers (or equivalent) in each state and territory
  • Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer

Members endorse national plant health policy, aiming to improve capacity, and capability in Australia. They represent their governments, but as a committee they focus on national priorities.

The chair position is rotated among members.

Observers may come from government agencies, statutory authorities, or government-industry co-funded companies. They include representatives from Plant Health Australia, and PHC’s subcommittee chairs. Observers don’t have voting rights.

The Committee meets face-to-face twice a year. Extra meetings are held as required.

The PHC also engages with key partners to discuss cross-cutting items. The Chair of the Plant Industry Biosecurity Committee (PIBC), and Director of the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI) are routinely invited to parts of PHC meetings. Annual workshops with PIBC and ad hoc workshops and forums on specific issues are held throughout the year.

The Australian Government provides secretariat support to the Committee.

PHC’s Subcommittees

PHC is supported by four subcommittees and working groups as required. These groups provide technical advice to the Committee. They also deliver on work activities for parts of the plant biosecurity system. The groups that currently support PHC are the:

Subcommittee on Market Access Risk and Trade (SMART)

Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics (SPHD)

Subcommittee on National Plant Health Surveillance (SNPHS)

Australian Fruit Fly Technical Advisory Subcommittee (AFFTAC)

Plant Biosecurity Preparedness Working Group (PBPWG)

PHC Communiqués

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Contact us

PHC Secretariat email phc@aff.gov.au. 

Mail address GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern