G/SPS/N/AUS/488  
 
4 November 2019  
(19-7393) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Australian Government Department of Agriculture  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Seeds for sowing of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and capsicum 
(Capsicum annuum species complex)  
4. Regions or countries li kely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Emergency measures for tomato and capsicum seeds . 
Language(s): English . Number of pages: 3 
6. Description of content:  Emergency phytosanitary measures for the importation of 
tomato and capsicum seeds are being introduced to mitigate the biosecurity risk posed 
by Tomato mottle mosaic virus  (ToMMV).  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X]  protect territory 
from other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  
ToMMV  (Tobamov irus genus) is an emerging biosecurity risk to Australian tomato and 
capsicum growers. This virus is known to naturally infect tomato and capsicum resulting 
in unmarketable fruit, and has plant disease resistance breaking capability.  
Recently, tomato and c apsicum consignments of seeds for sowing intended to enter 
Australia have tested positive for ToMMV. Australia 's existing import conditions for the 
importation of tomato and capsicum seeds do not require specific risk mitigation measures 
against ToMMV. The refore, emergency measures will be introduced for tomato ( Solanum 
lycopersicum ) and capsicum ( Capsicum annuum  species complex) seeds.  
A transition period will be provided before the commencement of emergency measures to 
minimise the potential for trade dis ruption:  
Transition period: Consignments that are shipped from an exporting country before 
midnight preceding 19 November 2019 will be permitted entry into Australia under 
existing arrangements (no additional measures).  
Commencement of mandatory testing: C onsignments that are shipped after midnight 
19 November 2019 must undergo Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for ToMMV 
either on -shore or off -shore.  G/SPS/N/AUS/488  
 
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  Phytosanitary certification requirements:  
Seed lots of tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and capsicum ( Capsicum annuum  species 
complex) that are tested off -shore must be accompanied by an official government 
Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the following additional declaration:  
'The consignment of [ botanical name  (s) (Genus species )] comprises [ insert number of 
tomato/capsicum seed lots ] seed lot(s); for each seed lot, seeds were tested by PCR 
[insert laboratory name(s) and report number(s) ] using protocols approved by the 
Australian Department of Agriculture on a sample size of 20,000 seeds (or 20 per cent of 
small seed lots) and found free from Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV).'  
Optional: For consignments that do not have the specific additional phytosanitary 
declarations but have laboratory testing reports.  
The consignment must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate that links to, and 
is accompanied by, a laboratory report. The botanical name and lot number(s) must be 
presented on the Phytosanitary Certificate. The laboratory report must state:  
The seed species tested; That a  20,000 seed sample (or 20 per cent of small seed lots) 
was tested and the test type used; The primers and protocol used are approved by the 
department; The test result confirming freedom from ToMMV; The lot number(s), which 
must match the phytosanitary ce rtificate; The date of testing; The laboratory name and 
address.  
Details of these emergency measures, including department -approved protocols are 
available on the department's website:  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/plant -products/seeds -for-
sowing/emergency -measures -tommv -qa. 
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Co mmission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : 
IPPC Article 7 and IPSM 1  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
19 November 2019  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
The Australian SPS Contact Point  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia 
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  G/SPS/N/AUS/488  
 
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  13. 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 Australian SPS Contact Point  
GPO Box 858 
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au