Final review of import conditions for brassicaceous vegetable seeds for sowing

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture (the department) is undertaking a series of seed reviews of the import conditions for four key vegetable families: Apiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Brassicaceae and Solanaceae as a result of changes in risks associated with the international movement of these seeds.This review of brassicaceous vegetable seeds for sowing is the first of the series finalised.This review of brassicaceous vegetable seeds for sowing identified two quarantine pests associated with the seeds of several brassicaceous vegetable seeds. The identified quarantine pests are:- Colletotrichum higginsianum (seed-borne in Brassica rapa and Raphanus sativus); and
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani (seed-borne in Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativusThe unrestricted risks of these quarantine pests exceed Australia's appropriate level of protection (ALOP). Consequently, additional pest risk management measures are required to manage the risks posed by the quarantine pests to a level that achieves Australia's ALOP.In addition to the department's standard seeds for sowing import conditions, four pest risk management options are recommended for seeds for sowing for the species Brassica rapa, Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativus:
Option 1. Broad-spectrum fungicidal treatment - to manage the risk of both Colletotrichum higginsianum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani; OR
Option 2. Heat treatment - to manage the risk of Colletotrichum higginsianum only; OR
Option 3. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test - to manage the risk of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani only; OR
Option 4. Heat treatment and PCR test combined - to manage the risk of both Colletotrichum higginsianum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. raphani.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.

Brassica rapaEruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativus seeds for sprouting or micro-greens production for human consumption are exempt from these additional measures if imported directly into Australia for germination at a production facility operated under an Approved Arrangement. This is to mitigate risks from the diversion of seeds to other end-uses.Seeds of most brassicaceous vegetable species reviewed were not found to be hosts of quarantine pests for Australia and they will continue to be subject only to the department's standard seeds for sowing import conditions.The draft report was published on the Department of Agriculture website on 14 February 2018 for a 60 day stakeholder consultation period (G/SPS/N/AUS/445). Comments raised by stakeholders were taken into consideration in the preparation of the final report.The key changes made in the final report are:
The inclusion of other pest risk management options (heat treatment and PCR testing) that are suitable for both organic and non-organic seeds sectors The removal of measures previously proposed for Brassica oleracea due to insufficient evidence for Colletotrichum higginsianum to be considered seed-borne in this host.
The completed final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/brassicaceous-crop-seeds.