G/SPS/N/AUS/439  
 
11 December 2017  
(17-6781) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member: AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:  
2. Agency responsible: Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water 
Resources  
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): Cucurbitaceous crop seeds for sowing  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Draft review of import conditions for cucurbitaceous 
crop seeds for sowing into Australia . Language(s):         . Number of pages:  
6. Description of content: The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water 
Resources initiated this review in response to recent incursions of some seed -borne 
pathogens in Australia, such as Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus  (CGMMV). The review 
has identified several seed -borne pathogens of cucurbitaceous crops which meet the 
International Plant Protection Convention criteria for a quarantine pest. The identified 
quarantine pests, in addition to CGMMV, include Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus 
(KGMMV), Melon necrotic spot virus (MNSV) , Phomopsis cucurbitae and Zucchini green 
mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV) . 
This review evaluates the effectiveness of existing risk management measures for 
identified biosecurity risks and proposes additional mandatory phytosanitary measures to 
reduce the risk of introduction of the identified quarantine pests. Standard requirements 
for the importation of seed for sowing apply to cucurbitace ous seeds from all sources. 
The department proposes  additional phytosanitary measures for Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis 
melo, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita pepo, Lagenaria 
siceraria  and Trichosanthes cucumerina and any hybrid of these species.  
The proposed additional phytosa nitary measures include:  
 Mandatory testing or treatment (off -shore or on -shore) for seeds of Citrullus lanatus, 
Cucumis melo, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, Cucurbita 
pepo, Lagenaria siceraria  and Trichosanthes cucumerina  and any hy brid of these 
species as specified in this review ; 
 Seed lots tested or treated off -shore be accompanied by an official government 
Phytosanitary Certificate endorsed with the additional declaration that the consignment 
has undergone mandatory treatment or testing in accordance with Australian import 
conditions.  G/SPS/N/AUS/439  
 
- 2 - 
 
  7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (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) : ISPM No. 2 
and 11  
[ ] 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:  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 6 December 2017  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure  
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from  the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 19 February 2018  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of ot her body:  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  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  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au  
Texts are available at the following web address:  
http://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk -analysis/plant/cucurbitaceous -crop-seeds