Biosecurity Duty
What is biosecurity?
Biosecurity is the protection of our economy, environment and community from the negative impacts of pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants.
Biosecurity protects our $14 billion primary industries and underpins the health and wellbeing of our environment and community. It keeps our waterways, state forests, parks and infrastructure free from serious pests and weeds, and it keeps our animals free of serious disease.
From 1 July 2017, how the government, industry and the community manage biosecurity in NSW is changing. The Biosecurity Act 2015 replaces wholly or in part 14 separate pieces of biosecurity related legislation. By streamlining these into a single Act, we are reducing red tape, simplifying existing policies and procedures and facilitating greater flexibility in how we manage biosecurity risks – the focus is on risk and achieving outcomes.
Relevant documents
General biosecurity duty
‘Any person who deals with biosecurity matter or a carrier and who knows, or ought reasonably to know, the biosecurity risk posed or likely to be posed by the biosecurity matter, carrier or dealing has a biosecurity duty to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the biosecurity risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised.’