Alerts

The purpose of this notice is to remind stakeholders that as a result of a departmental review, the department will update our approach to manage imported seed lots of Lolium spp., Festuca spp. and their hybrids (Festulolium spp.), that are found with sclerotia contamination. This change will occur on 11 August 2021.

For imported seed lots of Lolium spp., Festuca spp. and their hybrids (Festulolium spp.), for the end use of seed for sowing or human consumption:

1. Where sclerotia has been identified as a contaminant and has been identified as one of the below species, the detection will continue to be considered as non-actionable for Australia:

   • Sclerotium bataticola
   • Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
   • Sclerotium rolfsii.
     
     
2. Where sclerotia has been identified as a contaminant and is not one of the species listed above or cannot be identified to species level, a 0.05% tolerance level will be in place.

If the sclerotia cannot be identified to species level and is over the 0.05% tolerance level, remedial actions to manage the contaminant risk will be required. Remedial actions may include further species identification, cleaning, export or disposal.

These changes will be reflected on the department’s webpage for Seed contaminants and tolerance tables.

When will the changes be implemented:
The above changes will apply to all Lolium spp., Festuca spp. or Festulolium spp. seed consignments that are:

• exported to Australia on or after 11 August 2021
• accompanied by an offshore seed purity certificate (e.g. Orange ISTA Certificate, NAL certificate) in which sclerotia is identified as a contaminant
• onshore purity tested and where sclerotia is identified as a contaminant.

Note: Commercial documentation will be required to confirm the date of export (e.g. Bill of Lading, airway bill) to Australia.

Further information:
Please contact Plant Import Operations on 1800 900 090 or email imports@agriculture.gov.au.

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