Farm biosecurity refers to farm hygiene in all its forms. Its aim is to protect plant, animal and human health by preventing the introduction and transmission of pests and diseases.

Diseases may be caused by a wide variety of infectious agents. These range in size from things that we can see such as lice, ticks and fleas to microscopic particles such as viruses and bacteria. It is impossible to see most infectious agents so we must assume that plants,animals, feed, farm equipment and other materials, even humans are all contaminated.

Some common diseases that are a threat to Australian Agriculture include Foot and Mouth Disease(FMD),Mad Cow Disease, New Castle Disease, Apple Fireblight and Grape Virus Diseases.

Some common pests that are a threat to Australian Agriculture include Grape Phylloxera, fireants and grain borers.

Biosecurity involves the implementation of Quality Assurance Programmes, with a system of regular audits on properties across Australia.

Biosecurity is an issue of broad national concern. Traditionally biosecurity has been the business of agriculture and allied industries but there is now the need to include other major sectors of the economy and to engage the whole community.

Biosecurity has major economic and social implications for the following sectors:

Environment and Biodiversity; terrestrial and marine

Agriculture; animals and plants

Forestry; nature forests and plantations

Fisheries; marine, freshwater and aquaculture

Tourism; tourists and the environment

Water Supplies

Amenity and Recreation

Human Health

Biosecurity is a broader definition than quarantine. The community generally experiences biosecurity measures by passage through a quarantine checkpoint at an airport or state border.Bbiosecurity measures need to be implemented at national, state/territory, regional and property/patch levels.

Increasingly, international cooperation will be required to identify serious biosecurity threats and consequently develop and implement biosecurity risk mitigation strategies.