Managing Online Trading of Weeds in NSW | Charlie Mifsud
Tracks
| Thursday, August 7, 2025 |
| 1:50 PM - 2:15 PM |
| Parthenium Theatre |
Speaker
Charlie Mifsud
State Priority Weeds Coordinator
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Managing Online Trading of Weeds in NSW | Charlie Mifsud
Abstract
In November 2023, NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) finalised a procedure on the online trading of illegal biosecurity matter. This was to allow engagement with online and social media platforms, third-party sellers and other people who trade in plants, pest animals, or other things illegal to sell in NSW under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
A three-month trial of the procedure was initiated from November 2023 to January 2024 during which a representative of NSW DPIRD Invasive Species unit monitored online trading platforms for the sale of weeds covered under Schedules 1 and 2 of the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and Schedule 3 of the Biosecurity Regulation 2017. Individuals identified selling Schedule 1, 2 and 3 weeds were contacted with the aim of educating sellers of their biosecurity duties, potential penalties and options for disposal or surrendering the plants.
The main sites monitored were Facebook marketplace, Gumtree and eBay. The weeds commonly found for sale included aquatic species, various opuntia species and foxtail ferns. During the trial,128 sellers were contacted for the sale of frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), salvinia (Salvinia molesta), alligator weed (Alteranthera philoxeroides), sagittaria (Sagittaria platyphylla), water caltrop (Trapa spp), foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus), bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys , smooth tree pear (Opuntia monacantha), cane cactus (Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica), blind cactus (Opuntia rufida), boxing glove cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata), eves needle cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata) and velvety tree pear (Opuntia tomentosa). Most advertisements were removed, and 9 plants were surrendered or seized as a result of the online trading of biosecurity matter procedure trial.
Following the success of the trial, the procedure was approved and during the 12 months between February 2024 and February 2025 another 277 sellers were contacted. Additional weeds offered for sale included, wheel cactus (Opuntia robusta) and rope pear (Cylindropuntia imbricata).
Keywords: online, biosecurity matter, monitored
A three-month trial of the procedure was initiated from November 2023 to January 2024 during which a representative of NSW DPIRD Invasive Species unit monitored online trading platforms for the sale of weeds covered under Schedules 1 and 2 of the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and Schedule 3 of the Biosecurity Regulation 2017. Individuals identified selling Schedule 1, 2 and 3 weeds were contacted with the aim of educating sellers of their biosecurity duties, potential penalties and options for disposal or surrendering the plants.
The main sites monitored were Facebook marketplace, Gumtree and eBay. The weeds commonly found for sale included aquatic species, various opuntia species and foxtail ferns. During the trial,128 sellers were contacted for the sale of frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), salvinia (Salvinia molesta), alligator weed (Alteranthera philoxeroides), sagittaria (Sagittaria platyphylla), water caltrop (Trapa spp), foxtail fern (Asparagus densiflorus), bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys , smooth tree pear (Opuntia monacantha), cane cactus (Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica), blind cactus (Opuntia rufida), boxing glove cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida var. mamillata), eves needle cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata) and velvety tree pear (Opuntia tomentosa). Most advertisements were removed, and 9 plants were surrendered or seized as a result of the online trading of biosecurity matter procedure trial.
Following the success of the trial, the procedure was approved and during the 12 months between February 2024 and February 2025 another 277 sellers were contacted. Additional weeds offered for sale included, wheel cactus (Opuntia robusta) and rope pear (Cylindropuntia imbricata).
Keywords: online, biosecurity matter, monitored
Biography
Charlie has worked with NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development for 16 years. He is a State Priority Weed Coordinator specialising in Aquatic Weeds and is based at Grafton.
