Consultative Committee on Exotic Plant Incursions (CCEPI)
The Consultative Committee on Exotic Plant Incursions (CCEPI) is the key technical body for coordinating national responses to exotic weed incursions in Australia.
Terms of Reference
- Consult immediately following the first detection in Australia of an exotic plant with weed potential, or the first detection in an Australian State or Territory of an exotic plant with weed potential that is under official control or has a limited distribution elsewhere in Australia.
- Assess the identification, distribution and weed potential of the exotic plant and approve the response actions, or make recommendations where cost sharing is proposed.
- Endorse proposed surveillance, containment and control methods for approved projects.
- Monitor approved control projects, determine future actions or make recommendations where additional cost sharing is proposed.
- Provide a forum for exchange of information on weed incursions and facilitate the establishment of cooperative operational arrangements between parties.
- Report to the Natural Resource Policies and Programs Committee (NRPPC) on weed incursions through the Australian Weeds Committee (AWC).
Roles and responsibilities
The CCEPI coordinates national responses to:
- incursions of new exotic plants with weed potential that affect Australia’s primary industries and environment, and
- a serious outbreak of an exotic plant with weed potential that is under official contol and has a limited distribution elsewhere in Australia.
The CCEPI reviews technical information and makes recommendations to the NRPPC through the AWC regarding the management of an incursion, particularly if the pest plant is deemed to be eradicable. The CCEPI also coordinates nation-wide delimiting studies to determine the distribution of the pest plant.
The CCEPI presents indicative budgets and timeframes to NRPPC for an eradication program. The CCEPI oversees and monitors programs until eradication is achieved or deemed to be no longer feasible.
A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) may be formed under the CCEPI to examine specific science based aspects of response program. The TAG reports its findings to the CCEPI for consideration.
Membership
The CCEPI is generally made up of:
- members from Australian Weeds Committee or delegates with responsibility for plant incursions and with sufficient authority to make decisions on behalf of the agency they represent
- representatives from Biosecurity Australia and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
- technical experts appropriate for the weed of concern
- representatives from Plant Health Australia (observer status)
- representatives of plant industries at risk (observer status).
Chairing
The CCEPI is chaired by the Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer.
Secretariat
Secretariat support for the CCEPI is provided by the Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer.
Meeting arrangements
Meetings of the CCEPI are convened as necessary, most often through teleconferencing and on some occasions face-to-face.
Parent committee
The CCEPI is a sub-committee of the Australian Weeds Committee.
Contact
Tim Coutts (CCEPI Secretariat)
Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933