G/SPS/N/AUS/345  
 
21 August 2014  
(14-4821)  Page: 1/2  
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:  The Australian Government Department of Agriculture 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Carrot ( Daucus carota  L.) seed for sowing and carrot 
(Daucus carota  L.) and celery ( Apium graveolens ) tissue cultures 
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: Emergency measures to address the risk of the 
introduction of " Candidatus  Liberibacter solanacearum" in imports of carrot (seed, tissue 
cultures) and celery (tissue cultures) from all countries  Language(s): English  
Number of pages: 2 
6. Description of content: Introduction of emergency phytosanitary measures for imports 
of carrot (seed and tissue cultures) and celery (tissue cultures) into Australia, due to the 
identified quarantine risk of introducing Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum in 
imported carrot (seed and tissue cultures) and celery (tissue cultures). 
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. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action: Carrot and celery 
have recently been identified as natural hosts of the quarantine bacterium Candidatus 
Liberibacter solanacearum. The bacterium is also seed borne and seed transmissible in 
carrot, therefore, carrot (seed) provide a pote ntial pathway for the introduction of this 
bacterium into Australia. Additionally carrot and celery tissue cultures also provide a 
potential pathway for the introduction of this bacterium into Australia. Consequently, 
imports of carrot (seed and tissue culture) and celery (tissue culture) will now be subject 
to new import conditions. The emergency measures require that the carrot seed is either 
heat treated or PCR tested and found free of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum. The 
heat treatment of carrot seed or/and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing of the seed may be conducted offshore or onshore. Currently, carrot (seed and tissue culture) and celery (tissue culture) are permitted entry into Australia from any country without any risk mitigation measures. 
1. Phytosanitary certification requirements for carrot seed for sowing: 
Each consignment must be accompanied by  an official government Phytosanitary 
Certificate endorsed with one of the following additional declarations:  
 The carrot seed in the consignment was tested for Candidatus  Liberibacter 
solanacearum and found to be free of the bacterium by using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test method on a sample of 20,000 seeds; or G/SPS/N/AUS/345 
 
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   The carrot seed in the consignment was treated at a minimum temperature of 
50°C for at least 20 minutes; 
 The heat treatment of carrot seed or/and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 
testing of the seed may also be conducted onshore. 
2. Phytosanitary certification requirements for carrot and celery tissue cultures: 
Each consignment must be accompanied by  an official government Phytosanitary 
Certificate endorsed with the following additional declarations:  
 The tissue culture (carrot and celery) in the consignment was tested for 
Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum and found to be free of the bacterium by 
using Polymerase Chain Reac tion (PCR) test method; 
 Imported tissue cultures (carrot and celery) must be grown in closed 
government post entry quarantine facilities and should be subject to pathogen screening using PCR test for Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum. 
9. Is there a relevant international stan dard? 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) 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 langua ge(s) in which these are available:  Nil   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable): 
20 October 2014 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
The Australian SPS Notification Point  
GPO Box 858  Canberra ACT 2601 
Australia 
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au 
13. Texts available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if availabl e) of other body: