Final pest risk analysis for Pepino mosaic virus and pospiviroids associated with tomato seeds

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has finalised a pest risk analysis for Pepino mosaic virus and pospiviroids associated with tomato seed.

The final pest risk analysis identified five quarantine pests associated with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seed: Pepino mosaic virusColumnea latent viroidPepper chat fruit viroidTomato apical stunt viroid and Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid

The unrestricted risks of these quarantine pests do not achieve the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) for Australia. Consequently, pest risk management measures are required to manage the risks posed by the pests to achieve the ALOP for Australia.

In addition to the department's standard import conditions for seeds for sowing, a combination of pest risk management measures is recommended for tomato seed that includes a test or a treatment for each identified pest:
·         Option 1. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test—a measure that is applicable to all five quarantine pests associated with tomato seed;·         Option 2. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test—a measure that is applicable only to Pepino mosaic virus;·         Option 3. Heat treatment—a measure that is applicable only to Pepino mosaic virus

If the required treatment or testing is undertaken off-shore, phytosanitary certification is required with the additional declaration that the testing or treatment has been conducted in accordance with Australia's requirements.

The draft pest risk analysis was published on the department's website on 8 August 2018 for a 60 calendar day stakeholder consultation period (G/SPS/N/AUS/455). Comments raised by stakeholders were taken into consideration in the preparation of the final report.The key changes made in the final pest risk analysis are:
·         removal of Tomato planta macho viroid from the analysis because insufficient evidence was found of this viroid on the tomato seed for sowing pathway;·         retention of an ELISA test as an option to manage the risk of introducing Pepino mosaic virus.

The completed final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website at: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/pepino-mosaic-virus-pospiviroids-tomato-seedThe specific implementation date and revised import conditions will be made available on Australia's Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system:https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/BiconWeb4.0