Biosecurity & quarantine

The Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) works with primary industries to safeguard our agricultural resources from biological threats and to maintain our export opportunities.

The State’s reputation is underpinned by a comprehensive biosecurity and quarantine system, developed and operated by DAFWA.

DAFWA is involved with:

creation of surveillance and diagnostic programs
animal and plant risk assessments
importing and exporting requirements
creating mechanisms to respond to incursions
livestock movement and identification
development and maintenance of biosecurity and quarantine legislation.

To find out more about what we do to protect agricultural production and export opportunities within the State please search our website.

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Articles

Myrtle rust: Biosecurity alert

8 April 2014

Myrtle rust is a serious disease that infects and kills many plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family including eucalypts, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and peppermint trees.
Pig feed: what you can and can’t feed pigs (swill or prohibited pig feed)

27 November 2013

It is illegal to feed meat, meat products and food that has been in contact with meat to pigs in Australia.
Benign footrot in sheep and goats in Western Australia

18 February 2015

There are two main forms of footrot in sheep and goats: virulent and benign. Both forms are caused by the bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus.
Pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV1)

10 November 2015

Pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 (PPMV1) is a contagious viral disease affecting pigeons. It was first detected in Australia in 2011 and is present in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.
State Barrier Fence effectiveness surveys

17 January 2014

A grower suvey and benefit cost analysis on the State Barrier Fence has demonstrated the positive impact the fence is having on wild dog management.
Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)

15 October 2013

The Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) provides advisory and identification services on animal and plant pests, weeds and diseases that impact Western Australia's agriculture and food ind
Papaya sticky disease: biosecurity alert

16 August 2019

Papaya sticky disease is absent from Western Australia. It has recently been reported from the Northern Territory, after being detected in Queensland in 2014.
Lumpy skin disease: prevention and preparedness

20 June 2022

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease that affects all breeds of cattle and buffalo.
Blueberry rust

12 November 2014

Blueberry rust is a fungal disease that affects blueberries and some relatives in the Ericaceae plant family. The disease was detected in Western Australia in April 2022.
Potato spindle tuber viroid: declared pest

9 July 2014

Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) is a declared pest in Western Australia. It can significantly reduce crop yields in potatoes and tomatoes.