The National Policy on Regulated Non-Quarantine Pests helps minimise economic damage to domestic plant industries by enabling the Australian Government, through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, to regulate non-quarantine pests on nursery stock and propagative material at the international border. Pests covered by this policy are known as regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs).
The focus of the policy is to:
- outline RNQP requirements consistent with international standards
- clarify the roles of state and territory governments and industries in establishing an RNQP program
- support domestic industries in maintaining pest-free planting material.
If you are a grower or importer of plant propagative material, or regulator of Australia’s plant industry, this policy may apply to you.
What criteria must a pest meet to be recognised as an RNQP?
For the department to regulate a pest as an RNQP at the international border, certain criteria must be met:
- the pest must be a non-quarantine pest, i.e. it is already present and may be widespread in Australia
- the pest’s presence in plants affects the use of the plant and causes economic losses
- there are effective measures to prevent or suppress the pest in those plants
- there is domestic regulation, such as certification programs, in place for the pest to support management.
How does RNQP regulation protect Australia’s plant biosecurity and facilitate trade?
Sometimes, a pest or disease that enters Australia cannot be eradicated. However, to minimise damage caused by the pest during production, industry might implement strong biosecurity measures to keep the pest out of growing areas. If the biosecurity measures are compliant with international standards and all other criteria of the national policy are met, the pest may be considered an RNQP. This enables the department to regulate the pest at the international border, limiting further introduction of the pest in Australia and supporting industry objectives.
According to international trade rules, the department is unable to regulate a pest that is a ‘non-quarantine’ pest at the international border, however, it can regulate a pest that is a ‘regulated non-quarantine’ pest.
Read the policy
National Policy on Regulated Non-Quarantine Pests
If you have difficulty accessing these files, contact us for help.
Supporting information and important links
- ISPM 16 Regulated non- quarantine pests: concept and application
- ISPM 21 Pest risk analysis for regulated non-quarantine pests
- Official Control of Plant Quarantine Pests: National Policy 2025
- National Policy on Pest Freedom Programs and Pest Absence
General enquiries
Email us at Nationalpestpolicy@aff.gov.au for further information.