After a productive visit to Lucban, Quezon, the delegates of the 15th Quarantine Regulators Meeting(QRM) reconvened at the Acacia Hotel on May 2, 2025 to dive into focused discussions on key biosecurity topics.
Setting the tone, Bureau of Plant Director Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban, Ph.D. relates the perseverance of the Filipino farmers to the dedication of those who protect plant health. “Just as our Filipino farmers weather storms and seasons with strength and solidarity, we too, as regulators and guardians of plant health, must face today’s challenges united—through shared knowledge, aligned action, and enduring partnerships.”
Director Panganiban’s message resonated with Secretary of Agriculture Hon. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who reiterated that the QRM is more than a conference.
“It is a forum for unity, dialogue, and forward-thinking. It allows us to reflect on lessons learned, align our strategies, and build the kind of partnerships that transcend borders. It reminds us that biosecurity is not the responsibility of one country alone; it is a global imperative.” (READ more : website link here)
He added that as the Secretary of Agriculture, he believes that robust quarantine systems aren’t just technical; they’re essential for food security, supporting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring fair trade. It is the chance to keep strengthening those systems through collaboration, shared vision, and a commitment to a safer future.
Day 4 marked the start of the presentations of the Quarantine, which covered the core moment of the QRM, presenting the topics about
The Role of Australia’s Agriculture Counsellor Network – Dr. Rob Atkinson
Biosecurity Regulation: Our Collective Journey – Mr. Nathan Reid
Using Good Regulatory Practices to Improve Sps Measures: A Win-Win for Safe Trade Facilitation – Ms. Catalina Pulido
Building Regulatory Biosecurity Workforce Capability – Professor David Mackay
Biosecurity Implementations of Türkiye – Mrs. Şehriban Gören
Canada’s Use of a Systems Approach to Phytosanitary Risk Management – Mr. Nitin Verma
Interactive Presentation on Biosecurity Systems: Which Way Is up and How Do We Get There? – Professor Andrew Robinson
Compliance Behaviour in Biosecurity Regulation – Mr. Morgan Slater
Use of Data to Inform Audit Priorities – Mr.Jeremy Walton and Ms.Kara Taylor
Digitizing Trade – A Paperless Evolution – Mr. Matt Moore
The Evolution of Biosecurity Regulation From the Solomon Island Experience – Mrs. Jean Eroa
The Future of Biosecurity Fumigation Monitoring – Ms. Nicole Begg
Monitoring Apps for Fumigation by Treatment Providers – Mrs. Aprida Cristin, and Ms. Ratih Rahayu
On day 5, which is the last day of the QRM, delegates continued to share their diverse knowledge and valuable insights through their presentations, where the topics were
Quarantine Services for Import Agriculture Products in Timor-Leste – Dr. Manuel Da Costa
Strengthening Regional Biosecurity and Phytosanitary Systems – Mr. Chris Dale
Promoting Safe Agri-Food Trade Through Partnerships And Innovation – Lessons From STDF’s Work – Ms. Catalina Pulido
Strengthening Compliance: Operational Coordination Committee – Ms. Anna Brezzo
Canada’s Approach to African Swine Fever (ASF) Prevention And Preparedness – Dr. Parthiban Muthukumarasamy, and Dr. Suminder Sawhney
Regulating Phytosanitary Irradiation – Exploring Opportunities And Challenges – Ms. Tash Voyseys
Exploring Ethyl Formate as a Quarantine Treatment for Fresh Fruits: Findings From Initial Trials – Ms. Jhang Yu-Ling
Hitchhiker Pest Surveillance Beyond The Australian Border – Dr. Andre Tomkins
Biosecurity Innovation: A Future Ready Focus – Ms. Jessica May
Overview Of Sea Containers Survey In The Philippines – Mr Arnold S. Dela Cruz , Jr.,
Modernizing Biosecurity Regulation Through Trade Facilitation Support – Mr. Melvin Spreij
Strengthening Regional Biosecurity: Insights From OIRSA’s Visit To Australia – Mr Iván Hernández
During the closing remarks, Ms. Anna Brezzo, Acting First Assistant Secretary of the Compliance & Enforcement Division at Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, emphasized the value of the Quarantine Regulators Meeting (QRM). She highlighted that the event is not just about exchanging technical knowledge, as it represents a shared commitment to collaboration, innovation, and progress in biosecurity regulation.
She also touched on one of the most meaningful outcomes of the conference, which is the relationships formed and strengthened throughout the meeting. “I hope you’ve enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones,” she said, “and that these relationships will lead to even more collaboration in the future.”
Ms. Brezzo closed by thanking all participants for their contributions and expressed optimism for continued cooperation as they work together to navigate the ever-changing landscape of biosecurity.
As Dir. Panganiban stressed in his message, QRM is more than just a meeting, as it is also a platform for progress that allows them to learn from one another, to strengthen their systems, and to create meaningful impact that extends beyond borders and build meaningful connections that will help strengthen agriculture and our communities(…)