Pest management in a global free trade village: Prospects and pitfalls - Global trade implications of the World Trade Organisation and the Australian approach to Pest Risk Analysis

The conclusion of the Marrakesh Agreement to establish the World Trade Organisation and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement has imposed a discipline on the administration of plant quarantine not previously possible. International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) are now being developed to give guidance to countries to ensure their restrictions are technically valid, particularly the concept that in trade in plants and plant products risk always exists. The conduct of the key principle of phytosanitary control, Pest Risk Analysis as conducted by AQIS, and its technical constraints are described. Continuing involvement in the development and adoption of ISPMs by government is needed to ensure that trade is facilitated without compromising the conservative pest risk policies of Australian quarantine authorities supported by the recent Nairn Review.