Alerts

From 18 December 2023, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) will accept alternative diagnostic testing protocols delivered by the Naktuinbouw (NAKT) laboratory in the Netherlands for testing tomato seed for the presence of Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV), Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) and regulated pospiviroids. The protocols also allow for an increased sub-sample size of up to 1,000 seeds.

When will the Naktuinbouw protocol commence for Tomato seeds?
The NAKT protocol will be implemented for tomato seed for sowing on 18 December 2023, for seed lots tested in the Netherlands prior to export to Australia. From this date onwards, pathogen test reports issued by the NAKT laboratory using the new protocols will be accepted for imported consignments of tomato seed.

Note: The NAKT protocols may be used as an alternative to other department approved protocols that are currently available for tomato seed, which will continue to be accepted by the department. Refer to the department’s webpage to view details for other department approved protocols for ToBRFV and ToMMV.

What are the alternative import conditions?
The tomato seed BICON cases will include an additional import pathway for pathogens tested prior to shipment at the NAKT laboratory.

If pathogen testing has occurred at the NAKT laboratory consignments must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with the below additional declaration, as well as a corresponding laboratory report which meets the following report criteria:

• Phytosanitary certificate with the additional declaration:

  “The consignment of [botanical name(s) (Genus species)] comprises [insert seed lot number(s)] seed lot(s); for each seed lot, seeds were tested by PCR at the Naktuinbouw laboratory, Netherlands, on a sample size of 20,000 seeds (or 20 per cent of small seed lots) as sub-samples of no more than 1000 seeds and found free from Columnea latent viroid, Pepino mosaic virus, Pepper chat fruit viroid, Potato spindle tuber viroid, Tomato apical stunt viroid, Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid, Tomato brown rugose fruit virus and Tomato mottle mosaic virus.”

• The laboratory test report must accompany the phytosanitary certificate. These reports must include:

1. The address of the Naktuinbouw testing laboratory.
2. The full botanical name of the species tested.
3. The date of testing.
4. The type of test done (including the protocol number).
5. The seed lot number(s) (which must match those in the phytosanitary certificate).
6. The sample size, which must be 20,000 seeds (or 20% of the seed lot by weight for small seed lots).
7. The sub-sample size, which must be no greater than 1000 seeds per sub-sample.

8. The pathogens targeted*, which must include:

   a. Tomato mottle mosaic virus,

   b. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus,

   c. Pepino mosaic virus,

   d. Columnea latent viroid,

   e. Pepper chat fruit viroid,

   f. Potato spindle tuber viroid,

   g. Tomato apical stunt viroid,

   h. Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid.

9. The test result confirming that targeted pathogens were not detected within the seed lot/s.

*Note: the targeted pathogens for wild tomato are only Tomato mottle mosaic virus and Tomato brown rugose fruit virus

When will import permits be varied to include the alternative import conditions?
The department will notify import permit holders and vary all affected import permits by 18 December 2023 to add the alternative import conditions containing the approved NAKT laboratory protocols.

All variations will be performed at no cost to permit holders.

Who does this notice affect:
Importers (and their brokers) of tomato seed for sowing, Biosecurity Import Support Team Canberra and Cargo Operations.

Background:

• The NAKT protocols have now been approved by the department for testing the presence of all regulated pathogens associated with tomato seed: Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV), Pepino mosaic virus, and regulated pospiviroids (Columnea latent viroid, Pepper chat fruit viroid and Potato spindle tuber viroid, Tomato apical stunt viroid and Tomato chlorotic dwarf viroid).

  • The NAKT protocols were previously endorsed for use in imported capsicum seed, as per the published BICON change notice.
  • The department has assessed these protocols taking into consideration test performance characteristics and endorsed PCR-based validation reports and reference protocols.

• The protocols allow for testing to be performed on sub-samples of no greater than 1,000 seeds per sub-sample.

  • This is an increase from the current sub-sample size that is prescribed within existing testing requirements, which is a maximum of 400 seeds per sub-sample. This translates to a reduction in the overall number of tests required.

• The department’s approval is limited to the protocols being delivered by the NAKT laboratory, under the conditions specified in the validation reports and reference protocols.

  • Additional laboratories seeking to pursue approvals to deliver these protocols must provide a submission to the department for a case-by-case assessment to determine eligibility for approval.
• No changes have been made to the overall sample size that must be met for pathogen testing, i.e. seed lots must be tested using a sample size of 20,000 seeds.

Further information:
Please contact Plant Import Operations at imports@aff.gov.au (include ‘Plant T2 – NAKT protocol tomato’ in the subject line) or phone 1800 900 090.