Amendment of Phase 3 emergency measures for imported tomato and capsicum seeds to mitigate the biosecurity risk posed by Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)

As notified on 2 April 2019 (G/SPS/N/AUS/469/Add.1), from 15 April 2019, only seed lots imported under Phase 3 (PCR) conditions will be permitted entry into Australia.
In response to comments from stakeholders and recent test results, Australia has reviewed the previously approved PCR primers and updated the approved list. This has resulted in the removal of primers used by Li et al. (2018) and the inclusion of a new primer set (effective 7 June 2019). Australia has also finalised its PCR protocol with recommended primers for the detection of ToBRFV, which is now published on the department's website: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/plant-products/seeds-for-sowing/emergency-measures-tobrfv. Other PCR primers and protocols will be considered where evidence of efficacy of the test is provided, on a case-by-case basis.