Alerts

The purpose of this notification is to advise stakeholders of immediate changes to import conditions for Daucus carota (carrot) and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) seed for sowing.

Key points:

1. The fungicide treatment requirement for carrot and fennel seed for sowing will be suspended effective immediately.
2. An import permit is still required for fennel and carrot seed for sowing.
3. All other changes to import conditions for carrot and fennel seed for sowing remain in place, as per the BICON change notices issued on 30 March 2021.

Further to advice provided in BICON change notices issued on 30 March 2021 and effective immediately, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) will suspend the mandatory fungicide treatment requirement for imported Daucus carota (carrot) and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) seeds for sowing to allow stakeholders time to identify and provide a submission on proposed alternative risk mitigation measures equivalent to fungicidal treatment, for consideration by the department. Information on the recognition of alternative measures for seeds for sowing are provided in Section 4.5 of the department’s Final review of import conditions for apiaceous vegetable seeds for sowing.

The department will review the implementation of the fungicide treatment requirement by October 2021.

How can I stay informed:
The department will continue to keep stakeholders informed of further changes in import conditions, including their timeframes for implementation, via a separate BICON Alert and Industry Advice Notice.

Stakeholders are encouraged to subscribe to the relevant seed for sowing BICON Cases, which allows you to receive email updates when there are changes to a BICON Case. Instructions on how to follow a BICON case is located here.

Variation of Daucus carota and Foeniculum vulgare import permits:
The department will shortly contact affected import permit holders to vary valid Daucus carota (carrot) and Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) seed for sowing import permits in line with the above changes (i.e. the removal of fungicide treatment conditions).

As these permit variations will be initiated by the department, the variation will be performed at no cost to permit holders.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers (and their customs brokers) of carrot and fennel seed for sowing 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 T2 - vegetable seeds import conditions’).