Biosecurity & container cleanliness reforms

Further detail at August Conference

A joint presentation examining the proposed RSPM framework and practical measures to improve container cleanliness and reduce biosecurity risk across international supply chains will also feature:

• Sina Waghorn PhD - Team Manager Aquatic & Environment Approvals & Advice, Ministry for Primary Industries
• Rama Karri – Director International Collaborations, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
• James Hookham – Director Global Shippers Forum (GSF) (London, UK)

Separately, FTA/APSA have lodged a submission in response to the draft RSPM, highlighting the need for practical, risk-based implementation frameworks that support biosecurity outcomes without unnecessarily disrupting trade and logistics operations.

The submission notes that while many aspects of the proposed framework are already familiar within the Australian context — including container cleanliness declarations and authorised industry participant models such as Approved Arrangements — significant concerns remain around inconsistent implementation across jurisdictions, increased documentation requirements, allocation of responsibility across the supply chain, and the potential for operational delays and increased costs.

FTA/APSA also emphasised that the draft RSPM remains high-level and principles-based, with the real-world impacts to be determined through implementation by individual National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs). The submission calls for clear implementation guidance, consistency across jurisdictions, and ongoing industry engagement to ensure measures remain practical, proportionate and aligned with operational realities.

SUBMISSION AVAILABLE HERE