Appendix 3

Alternative Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP) Statement provided by Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment[1]

1.1        Australia's Appropriate Level of Protection (ALOP) is the standard of biosecurity the Australian Government applies when regulating pest and disease risks associated with international trade and travel.

1.2        Australia's ALOP provides a high level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection aimed at reducing risk to a very low level. This reflects the community's aspirations for healthy environments, healthy people and a thriving economy while maintaining our nation's connectedness with the rest of the world.

1.3        ALOP therefore recognises that pest risks that come with travel and trade may be minimised but that it is rarely possible to reduce these to zero without forgoing the benefits of these activities. However, if serious pest risks cannot be effectively mitigated, the Australian Government will exercise its right to prohibit an import or other inbound movement so that ALOP is met.

1.4        Decisions about import risk are made using a structured assessment process that uses a risk estimation matrix.[2] The matrix combines estimates of likelihood of pest entry, establishment and spread, and the overall consequences were that to happen.

1.5        The likelihood of pest entry, establishment and spread is estimated in consistent qualitative terms[3] over the anticipated duration and volume of trade or other inbound movement.

1.6        The potential magnitude of consequences is estimated by assessing impacts on communities, environments and economies at local, district, regional and national scales.

1.7        Sanitary and phytosanitary measures designed to satisfy Australia's ALOP apply to all Australian territory unless a region(s) is likely to be subject to significantly different risk compared with the remainder of the country. That region(s) may be subject to different sanitary and phytosanitary measures if these can be effectively implemented.

1.8        The Australian Government takes a prudent approach to uncertainty in the nature of biosecurity risk, particularly, if potential consequences of pest establishment and spread are likely to be severe or irreversible.

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