Emergency measures to prevent Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) from entering Japan through the importation of seeds and plants of host plants of PepMV

To prevent PepMV from entering Japan, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) will require National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPO) of exporting countries to certify that:A)     for seeds, either:i)       The samples randomly taken from parent plants and ones with suspected symptoms are tested by an appropriate serological diagnosis method such as ELISA or an appropriate genetic method such as RT-PCR assay and found to be free from Pepino mosaic virus; orii)      The seeds are tested prior to export by an appropriate serological diagnosis method such as ELISA or an appropriate genetic method such as RT-PCR assay and found to be free from Pepino mosaic virus; 4,600 seeds are randomly taken from a lot as samples in accordance with the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) procedures; or in case that the number of seeds of a lot is less than 46,000, 10% of the seeds are used for the testing; they are divided into at most 250 seeds for ELISA or 400 seeds for RT-PCR as sub-samples.B)     for live plants and plant parts for planting (excluding seeds and fruits):The plants randomly taken from a lot and plants with suspected symptoms are tested during the growing season or prior to export by an appropriate serological diagnosis method such as ELISA or an appropriate genetic method such as RT-PCR assay and found to be free from Pepino mosaic virusIn addition, the NPPO will be required to declare as below in the column of Additional declaration of Phytosanitary Certificate.Fulfills item 25 of the Annexed Table 2-2 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act (MAF Ordinance No. 73/1950)