Draft review of import conditions for apiaceous crop seeds for sowing into Australia

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources initiated this review in response to confirmation that ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' can be seed-borne and transmitted in apiaceous crops. The review has identified seed-borne pathogens of several apiaceous crops, meeting the International Plant Protection Convention criteria for a quarantine pest. The identified quarantine pests, in addition to ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' include Cercospora foeniculiCercosporamalkoffiiFusarium oxysporum f. sp. coriandrii, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cuminiPhoma complanata, Phomopsis diachenii,Ramularia coriandriRamularia foeniculi and Strawberry latent ringspot virusThis review evaluates the effectiveness of existing risk management measures for identified biosecurity risks and proposes additional mandatory phytosanitary measures to reduce the risk of introduction of the identified quarantine pests for Australia. Standard requirements for the importation of seed for sowing apply to apiaceous seeds from all sources. The department proposes additional phytosanitary measures for Apium graveolens, Anthriscus cerefolium, Carum carviCoriandrum sativumCuminum cyminumDaucus carotaFoeniculum vulgarePastinaca sativa, Petroselinum crispum and Pimpinella anisumThe proposed additional phytosanitary measures include:
- mandatory testing or treatment (off-shore or on-shore) for Anthriscus cerefolium Apium graveolens, Carum carviCoriandrum sativumCuminum cyminumDaucus carotaFoeniculum vulgarePastinaca sativa, Petroselinum crispum and Pimpinella anisum seed as specified in this review;
- a requirement that seed lots tested or treated off-shore be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the additional declaration that the consignment has undergone mandatory treatment or testing in accordance with Australian import conditions.