Alerts
Commencement of emergency measures to manage Xylella fastidiosa within Carya spp. as seed for sowing
Effective from 20 May 2022As advised through BICON Alerts issued on 16 May 2022 and 18 May 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) announced that new biosecurity emergency measures will be implemented to manage the newly identified risk of seed transmission of the plant pathogenic bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa through Carya spp. seed for sowing.
Phase 1 of the new biosecurity seed measures have commenced on 20 May 2022 and the following requirements apply to manage the risk of Xylella in Carya seed for sowing (including synonyms and sub-ordinate taxa):
- an import permit is required to import the following seed species imported for sowing purposes:
Carya alba |
Carya aquatica |
Carya buckleyi |
Carya buckleyi var. villosa |
Carya cordiformis |
Carya glabra |
Carya illinoensis |
Carya illinoinensis |
Carya laciniosa |
Carya oliviformis |
Carya ovata |
Carya pallida |
Carya pecan |
Carya texana |
Carya tomentosa |
Hicoria pallida |
Hicorius glabra var. villosa |
Hicorius laciniosa |
Hicorius pecan |
Hicorius villosa |
Juglans cordiformis |
Juglans glabra |
Juglans illinoinensis |
Juglans laciniosa |
Juglans oliviformis |
Juglans pecan |
- imported seed must be grown and disease screened for a minimum of 12 months, at the Australian Government post-entry quarantine (PEQ) facility at Mickleham, Victoria. Before release from biosecurity control, the plants must be tested and found free from Xylella species.
- All other import conditions will continue to apply, including mandatory phosphine or cold treatment to mitigate the risk of insect pests.
Next steps:
- The department will continue to monitor new evidence and assess the need to broaden Xylella risk management measures to additional seed or nut pathways.
- Any additional measures will be notified to affected stakeholders.
- Keep updated by subscribing to relevant BICON cases, using these instructions.
Who does this alert affect:
Importers (and their customs brokers) of seed species (listed above) imported for sowing and department staff.
Further information:
Enquiries can be directed to 1800 900 090 or via email at imports@awe.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Xylella emergency measures – Plant T2’).
This Alert applies to the following Cases: