DAFF - Revised emergency measures on tomato seed

Thursday, November 15, 2012

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Quarantine Alert

The information here covers AQIS quarantine requirements only and is current on the date of transmission but may change without notice. AQIS makes no warranties or representations with respect to the accuracy or completeness of that information and will bear no liability with respect to that information. Importers must satisfy quarantine concerns and comply with quarantine conditions applicable at the time of entry. The Commonwealth through AQIS is not liable for any costs arising from or associated with decisions of importers to import based on conditions presented here which are not current at the time of importation. It is the importer's responsibility to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information at the time of importation.

It is the importer's responsibility to identify and to ensure it has complied with, all requirements of any other regulatory and advisory bodies prior to and after importation including the Australian Customs Service, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Department of Health and Ageing, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority and any State agencies such as Departments of Agriculture and Health and Environmental Protection authorities.

Importers should note that this list is not exhaustive. Importers should also note that all foods imported into Australia must comply with the provisions of the Imported Food Control Act 1992 , an Act which is administered by AQIS.

Notification of the import must be provided to AQIS for all imported goods other than goods imported as accompanied baggage or goods imported via the mail and not prescribed under the Customs Act 1901. Notification must be consistent with Quarantine Regulations 2000 (examples include a Quarantine Entry or a Quarantine declaration).
Public Quarantine Alert PQA0851

Revised emergency measures on tomato seed against Columnea latent viroid, Pepper chat fruit viroid, Tomato apical stunt viroid and Tomato planta macho viroid

DAFF is implementing additional emergency measures on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seed consignments as viroids have been recently detected in several tomato seed consignments imported to Australia and several viroid species have been identified as risks overseas. DAFF will amend import conditions for tomato seeds immediately such that testing is now required for Columnea latent viroid (CLVd), Pepper chat fruit viroid (PCFVd), Tomato apical stunt viroid (TASVd) and Tomato planta macho viroid (TPMVd).

This is in addition to the current testing required for Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) and Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid (TCDVd). Testing may be done either offshore or on-arrival. DAFF will reject all consignments found to return positive results for any of these viroids.

All importers and prospective tomato seed importers should note that all future import permits for tomato seed will now be granted with the revised conditions.

Summary of changes:

- DAFF has introduced pre-export or on-arrival seed testing to cover CLVd, PCFVd, TASVd, TPMVd, PSTVd and TCDVd. Testing requires a 20,000 seed sample.

- On-arrival testing for a selection of the pathogens, rather than all, may occur when a Phytosanitary Certificate with an additional declaration for the other pathogen(s) is accepted by DAFF.

- Seed lots of 300g or less may be tested on-arrival for CLVd, PCFVd, TASVd, TPMVd, PSTVd and TCDVd using a smaller seed sample.

- Smaller samples may be pooled. Pooling of samples to save costs is acceptable and where importers acknowledge acceptance of the risk.

- Imported seed lines with fewer than 100 seeds will be grown in a Post-Entry Plant Quarantine (PEPQ) greenhouse and tested at eight weeks by leaf sample testing for CLVd, PCFVd, TASVd, TPMVd, PSTVd and TCDVd andPepMV as required.

- Parent plant testing is only accepted for phytosanitary certification after the testing system has been assessed by DAFF Plant Biosecurity (Grains & Forestry).

Phytosanitary certification or on-arrival testing for CLVd, PCFVd, TASVd, TPMVd, PSTVd, TCDVd and PepMV

If the tomato seed has been certified or tested in the country of origin, each consignment must be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate from the country of origin where the seed was grown and be endorsed with the relevant additional declarations concerning Columnea latent viroid, Pepper chat fruit viroid, Tomato apical stunt viroid, Tomato planta macho viroid,Pepino mosaic virus, Potato spindle tuber viroid and Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid and must be accompanied by the test reports that support the declarations.

Consignments not accompanied by an acceptable Phytosanitary Certificate may be tested on-arrival in Australia at the importer's risk and expense. Consignments shown by testing to carry a quarantinable pathogen will be exported or destroyed at the importer's expense.

Current consignments

DAFF will accept all tomato seed consignments imported under the old permit conditions up until 3 December 2012. Seed that has not been shipped or shipped after 3 December 2012 must meet the new permit conditions.

For more information regarding these changes please visit the Lycopersicon spp. as listed seeds for sowing case

For enquiries please contact:

DAFF Plant Import Operations
Phone: (02) 6272 3917
Email: plantquar@aqis.gov.au