Overview
Ensuring inputs used in production, processing, and packaging are free from pests.
- Examples include clean packaging, pest-free parent plant stock (e.g. potato tubers, nursery propagation material), or sterilised growing media for use in tissue culture.
- Evaluating the efficacy of this measure requires demonstrating that the specific requirements for pest free inputs will sufficiently reduce the risk of the commodity becoming infested.
- Pest-free inputs are often already commercially practiced. These practices can be considered during pest risk assessment. They can also be proposed as a phytosanitary measure.
- Assurance processes may include requirements that parent plant stock or seeds must be sourced from accredited and registered facilities, with requirements for testing a representative subset of the seeds or plant stock for the pest, or requirements for certain types of packaging.
Evidence to support efficacy
Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) can be used to identify points of risk through the production and supply chain. Evidence is required to demonstrate that the pest-free input requirements will reduce the risk of pest entry and establishment (where the goal is to help maintain pest freedom) or the risk of the commodity or consignment becoming infested. For vector-transmitted pests, the role of vectors will need to be assessed, including in relation to any unmanaged inputs.
Applying the measure
How it is used
Preventing production issues through ensuring that inputs are pest-free is a common goal of commercial quality management systems. These are particularly relevant for micro-propagation, plants for planting, and where plant pathogens can be transmitted to the commodity (e.g. fruit) through seeds or cultural practices. Requirements may include only using parent plant stock, seed stock, growing media and other inputs from certified suppliers that can ensure freedom from the pest or pest-vectors. Requirements around packing the commodity in clean, pest-free packaging are also commonly applied. Pest-free inputs may be considered when estimating unrestricted risk during a pest risk assessment, and they can also be applied as a phytosanitary measure.
Use with other measures
Pest-free inputs can be combined with Pest Free Area or Pest Free Site measures to help limit the risk of the pest entering the designated area. This can extend beyond the sourcing of pest free inputs, to regulation of the entry of other commodities into the Pest Free Area, and the restriction of movement of high-risk carriers by the public.
Pest-free inputs (e.g. clean packaging) are often combined with other measures such as safeguarding to limit the risk of the consignment becoming infested post-production.
Similar measures
Pest-free inputs and sanitation both relate to preventing the unintended movement of the pest. The focus of pest-free inputs is to prevent the pest entering the production system or consignment, whereas sanitation prevents the establishment and movement of pests where they were already present.
Assurance of correct implementation
Assurance will depend on the requirement, but typically can be achieved through audit of processes or records, or physical inspection. Pest-free parent plant stock or seeds may need to be sourced from a list of approved suppliers, typically Pest Free Place(s) of Production, with their own verifiable processes in place to maintain pest freedom over time. There may also be additional requirements for testing a representative subset of the seeds or plant stock for the pest. The use of clean or new packaging may be audited during an inspection by authorised personnel, with oversight by the NPPO or relevant authority of the exporting jurisdiction.