Revision of emergency measure to prevent Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) from entering Japan through the importation of seed and plants of eggplant

PepMV is one of the most serious pests for Japan based on our Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). To prevent PepMV from entering our country, an additional declaration is to be provided in the Phytosanitary Certificate for the import of its host plants.We provisionally required specified countries to conduct the tests for seeds/live plants of eggplant (Solanum melongena) and provide the additional declaration in the Phytosanitary Certificate as emergency measure on the basis of Article 5, paragraph 7 of the SPS Agreement, upon the detection of PepMV from eggplant seeds during an inspection in Japan (G/SPS/N/JPN/1021).Japan has sought to obtain additional scientific evidence, but none has been obtained that clearly indicates that eggplant is a host plant of PepMV. Therefore, the emergency measure for specified countries will be abolished and G/SPS/N/JPN/1021 will be withdrawn on the date of circulation of this notification.Incidentally, the quarantine measures for the host plants of PepMV as specified in item 25 of Annexed Table 2-2 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act remains.