G/SPS/N/AUS/439/Add.1  
 
16 June 2020  
(20-4226) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 10 June 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia . 
 
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Final review of import conditions for cucurbitaceous vegetable seeds for sowing  
Australia is undertaking a series of seed reviews of the import conditions for four key vegetable 
families: Apiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Brassicaceae and Solanaceae  as a result of changes in risks 
associated with the international movement of these seeds. This review of cucurbitaceous vegetable 
seeds for sowing is the second of the series to be finalised.  
This review of cucurbitaceous vegetable seeds for sowing ident ified eight quarantine pests 
(one fungus and seven viruses) associated with the seeds of several cucurbitaceous vegetables.  
The identified quarantine pests are Bitter gourd yellow mosaic virus (BgYMV), Cucumber fruit mottle 
mosaic virus (CFMMV), Cucumber g reen mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Diaporthe cucurbitae  
(formerly Phomopsis  cucurbitae ), Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus (KGMMV), Melon necrotic spot virus 
(MNSV), Tomato black ring virus (TBRV) and Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV).  
The unrestrict ed risks of these quarantine pests do not achieve the appropriate level of protection 
(ALOP) for Australia. Consequently, additional pest risk management measures are required to 
manage the risks posed by the identified pests to achieve the ALOP for Austra lia. 
In addition to Australia's standard seeds for sowing import conditions, four pest risk management 
options are recommended for seeds of Citrullus  lanatus, Cucumis  melo, Cucumis  sativus, 
Cucurbita  maxima, Cucurbita  moschata, Cucurbita  pepo, Lagenaria  siceraria, Momordica  charantia, 
Trichosanthes  cucumerina  and any hybrid of these species:  
− Option 1. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test -an option that is applicable to all eight identified 
quarantine pests . 
− Option 2. Enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test -an option that is applicable to 
CGMMV, KGMMV, MNSV and ZGMMV . 
− Option 3. Broad spectrum fungicidal treatment -an option that is applicable to 
Diaporthe  cucurbitae.  
− Option 4. Heat treatment -an option that is applicable to MNSV . 
If the required tr eatment or testing is undertaken offshore , phytosanitary certification is required with 
the additional declaration that the testing or treatment has been conducted in accordance with 
Australia's requirements.  
Citrullus  lanatus, Cucumis  melo, Cucumis  sativu s, Cucurbita  maxima, Cucurbita  moschata, 
Cucurbita  pepo, Lagenaria  siceraria, Momordica  charantia and Trichosanthes  cucumerina  seeds for 
sprouting or micro -greens production for human consumption are exempt from these additional 
measures if imported direct ly for germination at a production facility operated under an Approved 
Arrangement. This is to mitigate risks from the diversion of seeds to other end -uses. G/SPS/N/AUS/439/Add.1  
 
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  Seeds of most cucurbitaceous vegetable species reviewed were not found to be hosts of quarantine 
pests for Australia and they will continue to be subject only to the Australia's standard seeds for 
sowing import conditions.  
The draft report was published on the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and 
the Environment's website on 6  December 2017 (G/SPS/N/AUS/439). Comments raised by 
stakeholders were taken into consideration in the preparation of the final report.  
The key changes made in the final report are:  
− the inclusion of three additional quarantine pests (BgYMV, CFMMV and TBRV) asso ciated with 
cucurbitaceous vegetable seeds  
− the inclusion of other pest risk management options (heat treatment for MNSV and PCR testing 
for Diaporthe  cucurbitae ) that are suitable for both organic and non -organic seeds sectors.  
The completed final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of 
Agriculture, Water and the Environment's website at: 
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/plant/cucurbitaceous -crop-seeds . 
The recommendations of the final report will be introduced as a phased approach into Australia's 
import conditions. The first phase will commence on 12 June 2 020 and the revised conditions are 
available on Australia's Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system:  
https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/ BiconWeb4.0/ViewElement/Element/Alert?elementPk=1338288 . 
The implementation of further phases is dependent on risk management options being operationally 
available, which will be advised via further notifications.  
This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modificati on of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force  
[ ] Other:  
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified measure 
in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of originally announced final date for comments, the 
comment period provided in the addendum may vary.)  
[X] Sixty days from the date of circula tion of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : 15 August 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification Authority, 
[ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other 
body: 
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601 ; Australia  
Email: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au   
Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
The completed final report is available in English on the Australian Government Department of 
Agriculture, Water and the Environment's website at: 
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/plant/cucurbitaceous -crop-seeds  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601 ; Australia 
Email: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
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