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Domestic Quarantine and Market Access Working Group (DQMAWG)
DQMAWG is the key body coordinating interstate movement regulations for plant and plant products in Australia.
Terms of Reference
- Develop and maintain plant biosecurity measures that facilitate market access for plants and plant products for domestic markets and minimise risks to industries and regions.
- Ensure plant biosecurity measures developed are consistent within the principles and standards established under international and national agreements on quarantine and market access.
- Facilitate the provision of consistent, high quality information and industry consultation including public awareness on interstate and regional market access and quarantine for plants and plant products.
- Formulate procedures and delivery programs for interstate market access and quarantine for plants and plant products, area freedom inspection, and exotic pest incursion response.
- Develop plant quarantine certification arrangements that facilitate interstate access for plant products.
- Recommend and review interstate phytosanitary measures with the aim of identifying those which are outdated and technically unjustified and resolve any resulting disputes.
- Contribute to the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pest consideration of emergency plant pest incursions and develop interstate and intrastate market access and quarantine response mechanisms, including contingency planning.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of international policies, procedures and standards.
- Through the Plant Health Committee, make relevant recommendations to the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) and the Primary Industries Standing Committee.
Membership
DQMAWG membership comprises of the:
- senior plant health regulators from state and territory departments of primary industries and agriculture
- representatives from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Biosecurity Australia, Office of the Chief Plant Protection Office, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service), and
- Plant Health Australia (observer status).
Chairing
The Chair of DQMAWG is rotated amongst the plant health regulators from the various states and territory departments of primary industries and agriculture.
Secretariat
Secretariat support for DQMAWG is provided by the Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer.
Meeting arrangements
Face-to-face meetings of DQMAWG are convened twice a year in March and September. DQMAWG also convenes by teleconference every six to eight weeks or as required to discuss regulatory issues.
Parent committee
DQMAWG is a subcommittee of Plant Health Committee.
Sub-committees
The following are subcommittees of DQMAWG:
- Quarantine Domestic Awareness Group
- Interstate Certification Assurance Working Group
- National Fruit Fly Working Group
Contact
For more information contact Roberta Rossely on telephone +61 2 6272 4825.