DAFFnews - Issue 191

27 July 2012

• Rakhi festival highlights the importance of biosecurity
• Help shape Australia’s first National Food Plan
• Have your say on Australia’s import policy for dogs and cats
• Rural Research and Development Policy Statement

Rakhi festival highlights the importance of biosecurity

The Indian Rakhi festival, to be celebrated on 2 August, is one of the busiest periods in the calendar year for DAFF Biosecurity.

The festival celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters through the exchange of traditional gifts and is widely celebrated in Australia, with tens of thousands of festival gifts received through the post each year.

First Assistant Secretary of DAFF Biosecurity Border Compliance, Tim Chapman, said it was important for people to be aware of Australia’s biosecurity conditions when sending or receiving Rakhi gifts.

“By spreading awareness of Australia’s biosecurity conditions and advising overseas family and friends, there is less chance of gifts being delayed or intercepted at the border,” Mr Chapman said.

“This will also ensure that those celebrating this significant event will be playing their part in managing risks to Australia’s biosecurity.”

Items that are considered a biosecurity risk include Rakhi threads made with seeds or flowers, traditional Indian sweets and dried fruits.

For more information, please visit the DAFF website.

Help shape Australia’s first National Food Plan

A series of consultations on the National Food Plan green paper will be held in 24 towns and cities across Australia from this week until September 30, 2012.

The conversation around our food supply is one that many Australians already have a view on, and everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and contribute to the future of food policy in our country by attending one of the consultations.

If you can’t attend a public meeting you can make a written submission or join the conversation on Twitter. You can also contribute to the National Food Plan blog on the DAFF website. This week on the National Food Plan blog we’ll be exploring how Australia can seize the opportunities in Asia, including options to expand the network of overseas agricultural counsellors and increase rural research and development funding.

To register for a public meeting or for further information, please visit the DAFF website.

Have your say on Australia’s import policy for dogs and cats

The review focuses on the exotic pest and disease risks associated with importing dogs, cats and their semen. It is based on a rigorous, science-based risk assessment and international experience with biosecurity measures including the use of the rabies vaccine, approved treatments and laboratory testing.

The review process will determine whether changes to the current import policy for dogs and cats will be implemented.

The draft policy review is now open for a 60 day consultation period. All interested stakeholders are welcome to provide their comments by 24 September, 2012.

The draft policy review document and instructions on how to provide comments are available on the DAFF website.

All comments will be considered carefully before any changes to import conditions are introduced. In the meantime, anyone planning to import their dog or cat to Australia should proceed according to the current import conditions which are available at on the DAFF website.

Rural Research and Development Policy Statement

The Australian Government this week released a policy statement on rural research, development and extension outlining a future direction for Australia’s rural R&D.

The statement highlights the Australian Government’s continued commitment to investment in rural R,D & E and the value to communities from profitable, sustainable and competitive rural industries.

It focuses on four areas:

• greater transparency and accountability in the Research and Development Corporation (RDC) model
• coordination and priority-setting across the whole system
• opportunities for productivity growth
• operational efficiencies and return on investment.

The policy statement also includes the government’s final response to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the rural research and development corporations and the Rural Research and Development Council’s Strategic Rural R&D Investment Plan.

The policy will be implemented using existing systems where possible, although some legislation changes will be needed.

The outcomes of the National Food Plan green paper released last week will also inform the rural R&D policy statement’s implementation.

The policy statement can be accessed on the DAFF wesbite.