Rice blast
National Management Group (NMG) communiqué
9 September 2011
The Rice Blast National Management Group (NMG) agreed on 9 September 2011 that eradication of rice blast in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) is not technically feasible and that no national action is required.
In making its decision, the NMG took into account advice provided by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP). CCEPP considered that eradication was not technically achievable because of detections in both wild rice and commercial crops, and multiple pathways for infection and host species in tropical climates. The disease is considered established in northern Australia in wild rice.
Rice blast was confirmed in commercial rice crops in the ORIA on 12 August 2011. There are currently about 650 hectares of commercial rice planted in the Kununurra area of the ORIA.
The Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food has implemented quarantine measures to limit the spread of the disease. These measures include movement restrictions on equipment and machinery from rice growing properties in the ORIA and restricted entry of personnel into parts of infected properties.
The ORIA accounts for a very small fraction of the national rice crop. More than 99 per cent of all Australian rice is produced in the NSW Riverina where rice blast is not present. NSW has strict quarantine regulations in place to minimise the entry of disease to this area.
Rice blast is a significant disease of rice that affects all growth stages of the plant with severe damage occurring during the seedling stage. It has the potential to significantly impact crop yields. The disease can be managed through application of fungicides and use of resistant varieties.
Rice blast is found in most rice-growing countries and can be spread by wind, water or by human or animal movements. The disease has no impact on human health.
The NMG is the authoritative body that determines if a response will occur or not, under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed - a legally binding agreement between the Australian Government, all state and territory governments, national plant industry Deed signatories and Plant Health Australia.
The Rice Blast NMG is comprised of the chief executive officers, or their delegates, of the national and state/territory departments of agriculture and primary industries across Australia, the delegates of Affected Plant Industries and Plant Health Australia. Representatives of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities also participate in meetings.
The CCEPP is Australia's key technical body for coordinating national responses to emergency plant pest incursions, and assessing the technical feasibility for their eradication. It is comprised of technical experts and representatives of national and state/territory departments of agriculture/primary industries across Australia and Plant Health Australia.