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Case Glossary

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Case: Unrestricted cucurbitaceous seed for sowing Effective 30 Jul 2020 to 21 Aug 2020

Glossary

The following provides a definition of words or phrases that are found within the text. Some of these have a special meaning in relation to the importation or treatment of goods entering Australia and may be important to understand in meeting the requirements for import.

Term Definition
Approved Arrangement Site (AA Site)

An arrangement approved under Section 406 of the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cwlth) which permits a biosecurity industry participant to carry out specified activities to manage biosecurity risks associated with particular goods, premises or other things.

DNA has been modified

The adding of genetic information from other species. In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples include resistance to pests, diseases or environmental conditions, resistance to herbicides, novel traits such as flower colour or enhanced vase life or the production of a certain nutrient or pharmaceutical agent.

DNA modification

See DNA has been modified

goods

Goods include:

1. An animal.

2. A plant.

3. Any other article, substance or thing (including, but not limited to, any kind of moveable property); and, to avoid doubt, includes mail of any kind and ballast water.

import permit application

The department will assess the application and on the basis of that assessment may decide to grant an import permit subject to any conditions deemed necessary for safe importation, use and disposal of those products.

It should be noted that applying for an import permit does not automatically result in an import permit being issued. The Director of biosecurity or their delegate issues the import permit. You should ensure that an application is submitted for each product type and that the prescribed fee accompanies the import permit application.

ISTA

ISTA is the acronym for the International Seed Testing Association. ISTA provides an international standard for seed sampling and seed testing that is internationally recognised and trusted. The primary purpose of ISTA is to develop, adopt and publish standard procedures for sampling and testing seeds, and to promote uniform application of these procedures for evaluation of seeds moving in international trade.

Purity testing

Purity is the percentage of actual seed of the species requested in the seed lot. It is expressed as a percent pure seed. Other seeds and inert matter are accounted for and expressed as a per cent of the seed lot that is not pure seed. The other seeds fraction will include the seeds of all other species present in the sample being analysed. The seeds will be identified as fully as possible, usually to species level but sometimes it is not possible to identify the seed beyond its genus. Inert matter comprises all of the extraneous matter in the sample and includes plant matter, soil, sand, stones, fungal bodies and all matter and structures not specifically classified as pure seed or other seed.

seed lot

Seed lot is defined as:

A number of units of a single commodity, identifiable by its homogeneity of composition, origin etc., forming part of a consignment.

The seed lot can be:

  1. Seed harvested from one crop, or

  2. A blend of seed of the same cultivar harvested from different paddocks on the same farm, or

  3. A blend of lots of the same cultivar from different farms (only with permission from the certification authority).

seed lots

See seed lot