Plant Health Committee

The Plant Health Committee (PHC) is a sectoral committee under the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) and represents the peak government plant biosecurity policy and decision-making forum. PHC’s role is to maintain Australia’s plant health status in support of the economy, environment and community through provision of strategic policy, technical and regulatory advice and national leadership on plant biosecurity. Its area of responsibility is to progress, realise and deliver for the National Plant Biosecurity System (NPBS) on the core purpose statements on (I) stewardship, (ii) shared responsibility, (iii) enaction and (iv) strategic intent. PHC membership comprises representatives from: the Australian Government (Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer), and Chief Plant Health Managers (or equivalent) from each of the states and territories (QLD, NSW, VIC, ACT, SA, TAS, WA, NT). PHC Observers include a representative from Plant Health Australia (PHA), the Chairs of each of PHC's subcommittees Subcommittee on Plant Health Diagnostics (SPHD), (Chair of Subcommittee on National Plant Health Surveillance (SNPHS), Subcommittee for Market Access Risk and Trade (SMART), the Australian Fruit Fly Technical Advisory Subcommittee (AFFTAC)) and the Coordinator of the Plant Biosecurity Preparedness Working Group (PBPWG) PHC is chaired on a rotational basis. Secretariat services are provided to PHC and its subcommittees by the Australian Government (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).