Extension of emergency measures against "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" to include the seeds and tissue cultures of additional apiaceous hosts

As notified on 21 August 2014 (G/SPS/N/AUS/345), Australia's emergency measures against "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" require that carrot seed for sowing and carrot and celery tissue cultures must be subject to testing. Since the introduction of the emergency measures, "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" has been detected on the seeds of celery/celeriac (Apium graveolens), parsley (Petroselinum crispum) and parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). The seeds and tissue cultures of these species will be subject to the same emergency measures as the seeds of carrot and tissue cultures of carrot and celery. The emergency measures against "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" for the seeds of these additional hosts will be effective from 3 April 2017.
Amended emergency measures for seeds for sowing:
The emergency measures require that seeds for sowing of Apium graveolens, Daucus carota, Pastinaca sativa and Petroselinum crispum are tested for "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" and found free of the bacterium by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using a sample size of 20,000 seeds. Alternatively the seeds of Apium graveolens, Daucus carota, Pastinaca sativa and Petroselinum crispum may be hot water treated (temperature of 50ºC for at least 20 minutes).
Small seed lots of Apium graveolens, Daucus carota, Pastinaca sativa and Petroselinum crispum are PCR tested on arrival in Australia using 20 percent of the seed lot by weight.
Phytosanitary certification requirements for seeds for sowing:
Each consignment of Apium graveolens, Daucus carota, Pastinaca sativa and Petroselinum crispum must be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with one of the following additional declarations:
The consignment of [botanical name (Genus species)] was tested by PCR [insert Laboratory report number] on a sample of 20,000 seeds and found free from "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum".
OR
The consignment of [botanical name (Genus species)] was hot water treated (temperature of 50ºC for at least 20 minutes).
Amended emergency measures for tissue cultures:
The emergency measures require that tissue cultures of Apium graveolens, Daucus carota, Pastinaca sativa and Petroselinum crispum are PCR tested for "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" and found free of the bacterium.