EMERGENCY MEASURES FOR  MNSV  
Seeds for sowing  
In addition to existing requirements (including but not limited to visual inspection and testing for 
freedom from Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus  [CGMMV ]), MNSV host seeds for sowing 
(Citrullus lanatus and Cucumis melo ) must be subjected to the following phytosanitary measures:  
 
Commercial consignments  
The emergency measures will be imp lemented in three  phases to minimise trade disruption:  
Phase 0: Transition phase  
Consignments that land  in Australia  prior to  or on 18  October 2016  will be allowed entry into 
Australia under existing arrangement s (no test required for MNSV).  
Phase 0 condi tions expire at midnight 18  October 2016  and will be replaced by Phase 1 conditions . 
Phase 1 : Commencement of 2,000 seed sample size for MNSV  only and 9,400 seed sample size 
for CGMMV . 
Consignments that land in Australia  from 19 October 2016 may be importe d if accompanied by a 
Phytosan itary C ertificate or equivalent supporting documentation  stating  that the seed has been 
tested off -shore using the ‘International Seed Testing Associa tion (ISTA) 7 -026 Detection of 
Squash mosaic virus , Cucumber green mottle mo saic virus  and Melon necrotic spot virus in 
cucurbits ’ with a minimum sample size of 2,000 seeds and found free of MNSV .  
Consignments must also have phytosanitary certification stating the  consignment was tested by 
the ISTA 7 -026 method of ELISA on a samp le of  9,400 seeds  and found free from Cucumber 
green mottle mosaic virus. 
Where phytosanitary certification is not presented or not accepted, consignments are subject to 
onshore testing in Australia at a sample size of 9,400 seeds.  
Phase 1 conditions expir e at midnight 31 December 2016  and will be replaced by Phase 2 
conditions . 
Phase 2 : Commencement of 9,400 seed sample size for both MNSV  and CGMMV.  
Consignments arriving to Australia from 1 January 2017 must be ELISA tested with a sample size 
of 9,400 seed s using the protocol of the ‘International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) 7 -026 
Detection of Squash mosaic virus , Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus and Melon necrotic spot 
virus  in cucurbits ’ and found free of MNSV  and CGMMV . The testing of the seeds may  be 
conducted offshore or onshore . 
Phytosanitary certification requirements:  
Each consignment of Citrullus lanatus  or Cucumis melo  seed tested off shore  must be accompanied by 
an official government Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the following additional declaration : 
Phase  1:  
‘The consignment of [botanical name (Genus species)] was tested by  the ISTA 7 -026 method of ELISA 
on a minimum  sample of  2,000 seeds  and found free from Melon necrotic spot virus ’ 
AND  
‘The consignment of [botanical name (Genus  species)] was tested by  the ISTA 7 -026 method of ELISA 
on 9,400 seeds and found free from Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus’. 
Optional: For consignments that do not have the specific additional phytosanitary declarations but have 
laboratory testing repor ts. The consignment is 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:  
1. the s eed species tested  
2. that a minimum 2,000 seed sample was tested by the ISTA 7 -026 ELISA test  
3. the test result confirming freedom from Melon necrotic spot  virus  
4. the lot/batch number(s), and these number s must match the Phytosanitary C ertificate  
5. the date, the laboratory name and address.  
 
Small seed lots   
Small seed lots must be ELISA tested using 20% of the sample size by weight or using  a sample size 
of 9,400 seeds using the protocol of the ‘International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) 7 -026 Dete ction 
of Squash mosaic virus , Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus  and Melon necrotic spot virus  in 
cucurbits ’. The testing of the seeds must  be conducted onshore.  
Small seed lots of Citrullus lanatus  and Cucumis melo  are defined by seed lot weight (Table 1) . 
Table 1 : Small seed lot weights for host cucurbit seeds under the emergency measures  
Scientific name  Common name  Seed lot weight  
Citrullus lanatus  Watermelon  3 kg or less  
Cucumis melo  Melon (Rockmelon & 
Honeydew)  2 kg or less  
 
Phase  2:  
Each consignm ent of Citrullus lanatus  or Cucumis melo  seed tested offshore  must be accompanied by 
an official government Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the following additional declaration:  
‘The consignment of [botanical name (Genus species)] was tested by  the ISTA 7 -026 method of ELISA 
on a  sample of  9,400 seeds  and found free from Melon necrotic spot virus  and found free from 
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus ’. 
Optional: For consignments that do not have the specific additional phytosanitary declarations but  have 
laboratory testing reports.  
The consignment is 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 laborato ry report must state:  
1. the seed species tested  
2. that a minimum 9,400  seed sample was tested by the ISTA 7 -026 ELISA test  
3. the test result confirming freedom from Melon necrotic spot  virus  and Cucumber green mottle mosaic 
virus . 
4. the lot/batch numbe r(s), and these numbers must match the Phytosanitary certificate  
5. the date, t he laboratory name and address.  
Small seed lots   
Small seed lots must be ELISA tested using 20% of the sample size by weight or using  a sample size 
of 9,400 seeds using the prot ocol of the ‘International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) 7 -026 Detection of Squash mosaic virus , Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus  and Melon necrotic spot virus  in 
cucurbits ’. The testing of the seeds must  be conducted onshore.  
Small seed lots of Citrul lus lanatus  and Cucumis melo  are defin ed by seed lot weight (Table 1).  
 
Table 1 : Small seed lot weights for host cucurbit seeds under the emergency measures  
Scientific name  Common name  Seed lot weight  
Citrullus lanatus  Watermelon  3 kg or less  
Cucumis me lo Melon (Rockmelon & 
Honeydew)  2 kg or less  
 
Nursery stock  
Nursery stock of Citrullus lanatus , Cucumis melo , Cucumis sativus  and Lagenaria sicerari a are not 
permitted  entry  into Australia until import conditions are developed for Melon necrotic spot viru s and 
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus .