The Australian Banana Growers’ Council, on behalf of industry, is proposing changes to the Panama TR4 Code of Practice, to allow for smaller destruction zones. The changes proposed continue to protect industry while offering a more workable solution to those currently farming with the disease.
A NOTE FROM ABGC:
ABGC acknowledges it has been nine years since the first TR4 detection, buying considerable time for the industry to adjust and prepare. The ABGC Board supports:
- the destruction zone being reduced in size to include the infected plant plus others for distance of 5 metres along the row in both directions, for 10m total length,
- no destruction across the inter-row
The reduction in destruction zone size has the potential to provide a more practical and workable solution to infested property owners in managing the disease, based on the current science.
THE PROPOSAL:
Amend the destruction zone protocol currently in the Code of Practice for the management and control of Panama disease tropical race 4 on an infested property in Queensland (the Code) under “Part 4, s21 Establishing a destruction zone” from:
Within three business days of receiving documentation confirming a positive diagnostic result, a destruction zone must be established that-
a) extends 10 metres in either direction from the infected plant along-
(i) the row of the infected plant; and
(ii) the immediate adjacent rows of plants; and
(iii)the interrows between the row of the infected and adjacent plants; and
b) is bordered by a temporary barrier to deter unauthorised access; and
c) has signage placed on the temporary barrier stating that there is to be no unauthorised access to the destruction zone.
And amend this to:
Within three business days of receiving documentation confirming a positive diagnostic result, a destruction zone must be established that-
a) extends 5 metres in either direction from the infected plant along the row of the infected plant; and
b) is bordered by a temporary barrier to deter unauthorised access; and
c) has signage placed on the temporary barrier stating that there is to be no unauthorised access to the destruction zone.
The changes to the establishment of a destruction zone after a positive diagnostic result are summarised as follows:
- The extension of the destruction zone from the infected plant along the row of the infected plant is reduced from 10 meters to 5 meters in either direction.
- The removal of the requirement to destroy plants in the immediate adjacent rows of plants and the interrows between the row of infected and adjacent plants.
- The destruction zone must still be bordered by a temporary barrier and on completion fenced to deter unauthorised access.
- Signage stating that there is to be no unauthorised access to the destruction zone must be placed on the temporary barrier whilst destruction is undertaken and on the final fencing.
VIEW THE DRAFT
SIDE By Side
CURRENT
PART 4 Plant destruction requirements
21 Establishing a destruction zone
Within three business days of receiving documentation confirming a positive diagnostic result, a destruction zone must be established that-
a) extends 10 metres in either direction from the infected plant along-
(i) the row of the infected plant; and
(ii) the immediate adjacent rows of plants; and
(iii) the interrows between the row of the infected and adjacent plants; and
b) is bordered by a temporary barrier to deter unauthorised access; and
c) has signage placed on the temporary barrier stating that there is to be no unauthorised access to the destruction zone.
Proposed
PART 4 Plant destruction requirements
21 Establishing a destruction zone
Within three business days of receiving documentation confirming a positive diagnostic result, a destruction zone must be established that-
a) extends 5 metres in either direction from the infected plant along the row of the infected plant; and
b) is bordered by a temporary barrier to deter unauthorised access; and
c) has signage placed on the temporary barrier stating that there is to be no unauthorised access to the destruction zone.
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