The SNPHS is a subcommittee of the Plant Health Committee (PHC).
The subcommittee provides leadership and expertise for Australia’s plant health surveillance. This includes plant pest surveillance policy, standards and coordination.
Purpose
The SNPHS oversees national functions, enablers and drivers for plant pest surveillance. It works to maintain and improve Australia’s plant health surveillance capability. The SNPHS supports a nationally coordinated and risk-based plant biosecurity surveillance system.
A strong national biosecurity surveillance system protects our plant industries and the environment.
The SNPHS:
- develops and implements the National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy (NPBSS)
- develops surveillance policies, protocols, standards, and resources to support national surveillance efforts
- provides technical guidance on surveillance requirements and protocols for emergency plant pest (EPP) incursions
- supports national implementation of surveillance tools and databases such as MyPestGuide and AUSPestCheckTM
- coordinates the Plant Surveillance Network Australasia-Pacific (PSNAP).
The SNPHS support implementation of relevant schedules in the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB).
Priorities
In addition to progressing activities to support implementation of national surveillance strategies, the SNPHS:
- Strengthens the national surveillance system, networks and engagement by coordinating and maintaining the PSNAP and improving information sharing with stakeholders.
- Builds capability across the surveillance workforce through professional development options—anchored by an annual national workshop with practical training.
- Drives the lifecycle of Technical Reference Guides (TRGs)—their development, endorsement, and implementation—to ensure consistent, quality surveillance practice.
- Establishes nationally agreed surveillance design processes that deliver consistent, evidence‑based benefits across jurisdictions.
- Collaborates across committees and projects to progress surveillance priorities and support the broader system.
Working groups
The SNPHS has formed the following working groups to help deliver their priorities:
- Plant Surveillance Network Working Group (PSNWG)
- Technical Reference Guide Working Group (TRGWG)
- Surveillance Design and Analysis Working Group (SDAWG)
- Surveillance Systems Working Group (SSWG)
Membership and meetings
Members include representatives from the Australian, state and territory governments. They are nominated based on their expertise. Members provide technical advice to the PHC on plant health surveillance matters.
The chair position is rotated among members.
Observers may come from government agencies, statutory authorities, or government-industry co-funded companies. Observers include representatives from CSIRO and Plant Health Australia. Observers do not have voting rights.
The SNPHS meet face-to-face twice a year.
The Australian Government provides secretariat support to the SNPHS.
Communiqués
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Contact us
SNPHS Secretariat snphs@aff.gov.au
GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601
Phone 1800 900 090