PH, Australia Hold 2nd Plant Technical Working Group

DAFF Assistant Secretary Peter Creaser (left) with DA-BPI Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban. (Melbourne PCG photo)

MELBOURNE, 01 March 2023 – The 2nd Philippines-Australia Plant Technical Working Group (PTWG) convened in Melbourne on 22 February 2023. Director and PTWG Co-chair Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban of the Department of Agriculture headed the Philippine delegation, accompanied by other officials from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Science and Technology, and the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne. Assistant Secretary and PTWG Co-chair Peter Creaser of the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry headed the Australian delegation.

The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in various areas such as phytosanitary irradiation. They also discussed the processes leading to the possible exports of other Philippine produce to Australia such as dragonfruit.

During the visit, the Philippine delegation also conducted an audit of an irradiation facility in Melbourne operated by Australian company Steritech, and visited Australian biosecurity systems including detector dogs at Melbourne Airport and the post-entry plant quarantine facility. This is the first face-to-face PTWG since the mechanism was first convened in 2020 in an online setting. 

Prior to the meeting, the DA delegation also paid a courtesy call to the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne to discuss the talks as well as the potential for the expansion of Philippine agricultural exports to Australia. END                                           

The Philippine and Australian Delegations to the 2nd PTWG. (Melbourne PCG photo)

The Philippine delegation to the PTWG pays a courtesy call to Consul General Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo at the Philippine Consulate General in Melbourne. (Melbourne PCG photo)

For more information, visit https://melbournepcg.dfa.gov.ph/.