Emergency measures to prevent Acidoborax avenae subsp. citrulli (Aac) from entering Japan through the importation of seeds and plants of host plants of Aac

In order to prevent Aac 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 parent plants are grown from seeds disinfected against this pest or known to be free from this pest.
and
the parent plants and fruits (for producing seeds) at a place of production or a production site (including a plant growth facility) are inspected (including laboratory testing of any suspicious symptoms) during fruit maturity stage before harvesting and found free from Aac; or
ii)    the seeds are tested prior to export by an appropriate genetic method such as LAMP assay or PCR assay or grow-out method and found to be free from Aac; 30,000 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 300,000, 10% of the seeds are used for the testing. 
b)    for live plants and plant parts for planting (excluding seeds and fruits):i)     seeds must be ensured to be free from Aac based on either of the following specific requirement (a) or (b);
Either(a) Parent plants and fruits (for producing seeds) at a place of production or a production site (including a plant growth facility) are inspected (including laboratory testing of any suspicious symptoms) during fruit maturity stage before harvesting and found free from Aac;
or(b) Seeds are tested by an appropriate genetic method such as LAMP assay or PCR assay or grow-out method and found free from Aac;andii)    The plants are grown using the seeds at a place of production or production site (including a plant growth facility) where the control measures against Aac are carried out;
and
iii)   Prior to export, the plants are inspected if signs or symptoms are present and found free from Aac.In addition, the NPPO will be required to declare as below in the column of Additional declaration of Phytosanitary Certificate.Fulfills item 19 of the Annexed Table 2-2 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act (MAF Ordinance No. 73/1950).