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National Biosecurity Committee
The NBC was established in July 2008 to provide strategic leadership in managing national approaches to emerging and ongoing biosecurity policy issues across jurisdictions and sectors, and to provide advice to the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC) and the Standing Council on Primary Industries (SCoPI). The NBC takes an overarching, cross-sectoral approach to national biosecurity policy, and works collaboratively to achieve national policy objectives for biosecurity in Australia.
All biosecurity issues, including environmental, animal and plant biosecurity issues, are considered by the NBC, with a view to resolution or for the development of advice to PISC and SCoPI as appropriate.
The NBC meets twice yearly in February and August.
For further information contact the NBC Secretariat.
NBC membership
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) chairs the NBC as a member of the Primary Industries Standing Committee. The Australian Government is also represented by DAFF’s Deputy Secretary, Biosecurity, and a Deputy Secretary from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (or his/her delegate).
Remaining members are senior representatives from primary industry or environment departments for each state or territory. Jurisdictions may have up to two representatives.
NBC priorities
Two of the NBC’s main priorities are the implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) and the National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Action Plan.
NBC update
The NBC met for the fifteenth time in Canberra on 26 February 2013. The meeting was chaired by Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO, Secretary – Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The meeting focused on:
- implementation of the National Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Action Plan including a proposal for a national livestock standstill exercise; and
- the progress of Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) working groups in implementing priority reforms to the national biosecurity system.
Further information is provided in the NBC 15 communique.
The next meeting of the NBC will be held on 8 August 2013.
NBC communiqués
22 May 2013