Biosecurity has become a major concern to the agriculture industry as a result of foreign and emerging endemic and exotic disease issues, the globalisation of agricultural and increasing public concerns over food safety. Biosecurity can be defined as the management practices enabling businesses in primary production and manufacturing to prevent the movement of disease-causing agents onto and off of their operations. This includes environmental contamination.

Biosecurity therefore involves many aspects of farm management, such as disease control and prevention (e.g. closed herds, direct consignment of transport, vaccinations, ante-mortem inspections), nutrient management and visitor control. Although controlling and limiting the movement of livestock is recognised as the most important biosecurity measure for most diseases, many important hazards can be carried on contaminated clothing, boots, equipment and vehicles.