Alerts

The purpose of this notification is to advise stakeholders of upcoming changes to import conditions for the following restricted apiaceous seed species imported for sowing purposes:

• Anthriscus cerefolium (chervil)
• Apium graveolens (celery)
• Daucus carota (carrot)
• Foeniculum vulgare (fennel)
• Pastinaca sativa (parsnip)
• Petroselinum crispum (parsley).

The revised conditions will apply to all synonyms and sub-ordinate taxa of the above species.

Important: As advised on 11 December 2020, the department will also introduce an import permit requirement for several species of apiaceous seeds for sowing on 30 March 2021.

• Goods that require a valid import permit, but arrive without one, including where an import permit application is currently under consideration, will be directed for export from Australian territory or disposal in an approved manner.
• We strongly encourage you to familiarise yourselves with the planned permit introductions, including cut-off dates to submit import permit applications in time for departmental assessment before 30 March 2021.

When will Phase 1 conditions commence?
The revised import conditions, including the new import permit requirement, will commence on 30 March 2021. Consignments that arrive in Australian territory on or after 30 March 2021 must meet the revised conditions.

What changes will occur under Phase 1?

1. For Daucus carota (carrot) and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) seed for sowing:
   From 30 March 2021, all consignments of Daucus carota and Foeniculum vulgare seed for sowing must be treated with a broad-spectrum fungicide (e.g. Thiram) either prior to export, or on-arrival in Australia.
   
   • This treatment is required to manage the risk of fungal pathogens, Diaporthe angelicae on carrot seed and Cercospora foeniculi on fennel seed.
   • Seed lots that are treated offshore must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that is endorsed with details of the treatment. Where phytosanitary certification is not presented or accepted, consignments are subject to onshore treatment at a department approved site that is able to perform the required treatment.
   • Goods that are not treated prior to export must be treated on arrival, or they will be directed for export or disposal in an approved manner.
   • There are limited facilities available in Australia for fungicide treatment onshore. Due to limited availability of treatment providers, we strongly recommend that the seed is treated prior to export.
   • For seed being treated in Australia, importers are responsible for:
   - contacting relevant sites to confirm all arrangements prior to importation, including the site’s availability to treat the quantity of seed within the consignment
   - all fees and charges associated with treatment application and departmental supervision.
   
   
2. For all the six listed apiaceous vegetable seeds for sowing:
   All other import conditions will continue to apply, including mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing or hot water treatment to manage the risk of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum'.
   
   The department will implement the following updates to import conditions to ensure that they are fit-for-purpose, effective and consistent:
   
   • An offshore laboratory test report must accompany all consignments that had been PCR tested for 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' prior to export. The report must include details such as the species and seed lot/s tested, the size of the testing sample, the type of test performed and the testing result.
   • Seed samples for onshore 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' testing must be drawn from each seed lot within the consignment by a biosecurity officer; samples cannot be drawn across multiple seed lots.
   • Consignments being treated to manage the risk of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' must be treated using hot water immersion at 50°C for 20 minutes. Other types of heat treatment (e.g. dry heat, moist heat) will no longer be accepted following the implementation of revised conditions on 30 March 2021.

Variation of Daucus carota import permits:
The department will contact affected import permit holders to vary valid Daucus carota (carrot) seed for sowing import permits in line with the above changes. As these permit variations will be initiated by the department, the variation will be performed at no cost to permit holders.

Background:

• Why are these changes taking place?
  The increased biosecurity risk associated with imported seeds for sowing has prompted the department to review the import conditions for four key vegetable seed families: Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Solanaceae. Apiaceous vegetable seeds are the third of the series being reviewed.
  
  The department will soon publish the final review of import conditions for apiaceous vegetable seeds for sowing, which identifies four quarantine pests associated with the seeds of several apiaceous vegetables. These pathogens are: 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum', Cercospora foeniculi, Diaporthe angelicae and Strawberry latent ringspot virus. Additional measures are required to reduce the risks posed by the identified quarantine pests to meet an appropriate level of protection for Australia.
  
  Once published, the final report can be accessed on the department's webpage. Stakeholders are encouraged to view the report for further information on the quarantine pests identified and the pest risk management measures required for each seed host.
  
  
• How will the department implement the recommendations within the final report?
  The risk management measures recommended under the final review will be implemented using a phased approach (Figure 1). The measures being introduced on 30 March 2021 represent the first of several phases. The implementation of further phases is dependent on risk management options being operationally available.
  
  The department will keep stakeholders updated in regards to the approach and commencement date for subsequent phases, as this information becomes available.
  
  
  Figure 1. Phased approach to implement revised import conditions for restricted apiaceous seeds for sowing.

Who does this alert affect:
Importers (and their customs brokers) of apiaceous vegetable seed and department staff.

Further information:
Please contact Plant Import Operations on 1800 900 090 or email imports@agriculture.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email ‘Plant Tier 2 - vegetable seeds import conditions’).