What is AQIS, what is it's responsibility and how are these enforced?
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services operates within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and works with the Australian Customs Service, Aus Post and air courier firms as well as similar organisations in countries such as the US, India, Switzerland and the UK. It is responsible for:
-protecting Aus primary producers and community from exotic pests and disease
-inspecting legally imported animals, plants and their products as well international travellers
-helping the international movement of people by checking the quarantine status of overseas travellers passing through airport and seaports
-providing export certification for agricultural produce and other commodities so Aus food and other ag products can enter and compete in global markets
-negotiating national and international agreements and protocols on behalf of the industries that require it.
to protect Aus from exotic pests and disease the AQIS runs:
- an airports program, with inspectors, dogs, luggage x-rays and on-the-spot fines
-an international mail program with detector dogs, officers and x-ray units
-a sea ports program
-a ballast water program
-a post-entry plant quarantine station at Easter Creek in NSW
-quarantine stations for imported animals
What program does the Food Safety Campaign Group run, what is the aim of this program, who makes up the group and what are the groups 5 key messages?