Emergency measures to prevent Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) from entering Japan through the importation of seeds and plants of host plants of PSTVd

In order to prevent PSTVd 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) seeds, either:
i) the samples randomly taken from parent plants and ones with suspected symptoms are tested during harvest period by an appropriate genetic method such as RT-PCR assay and found to be free from Potato spindle tuber viroid; or
ii) the seeds are tested prior to export by an appropriate genetic method such as RT-PCR assay and found to be free from Potato spindle tuber viroid; 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 400 seeds as sub-samples; or
b) for live plants and plant parts for planting (excluding seeds and fruits):
i) 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 genetic method such as RT-PCR assay and found to be free from Potato spindle tuber viroid
In addition, the NPPO will be required to declare as below in the column of Additional declaration of Phytosanitary Certificate.Fulfills item 24 of the Annexed Table 2-2 of the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Plant Protection Act (MAF Ordinance No. 73/1950)."