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Abstract
Eradication and surveillance zones for red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) embrace parts of southeastern Queensland, Australia. To lessen the risk of fire ants becoming established at new locations, those who transport soil and plant materials from affected areas for commercial reasons must comply with official risk‐management measures. This obligation is one of many that soil and plant testing laboratories in different Australian states now have a legal requirement to manage, whether samples come from within the state, interstate, or overseas. Many examples of pests and diseases of concern are provided, along with information on current pest‐management regulations. Annual soil and plant sample transactions for years 2001–2003 suggest that the regions at most risk from accidental pest and disease movement are in this order: Western Australia>Queensland>New South Wales. Large laboratories in particular are encouraged to implement a hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) evaluation of their sample‐handling procedures from receipt to disposal. Staff training in pest and disease awareness and recognition during all aspects of soil and plant analysis is encouraged.
