. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/AUS/311 
17 December 2012  
 (12-6869) 
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, Fisheries and 
Forestry (DAFF) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L., C.  chinense Jacq., C. frutescens L.) 
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 on capsicum seed against Potato 
spindle tuber viroid  and Pepper chat fruit viroid  Language(s):  English  Number of 
pages:  2 
6. Description of content:  Emergency phytosanitary measures for imports of capsicum seed 
into Australia are being introduced due to the quarantine risks presented by Pepper chat 
fruit viroid and Potato spindle tuber viroid. 
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:  Risk reviews done by 
the Australian Government Department of Agri culture, Fisheries and Forestry indicate that 
capsicum seed produced in other countries may carry Pepper chat fruit viroid (PCFVd) and 
Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). Capsicum  seed imports or parent plants will be 
required to pass laboratory tests for PCFVd and PSTVd.  A system that has been 
implemented for emergency phytosanitary measures  on tomato seed imports will be applied 
to capsicum seed, with options for off-shore testing and phytosanitary certification or 
testing in Australia. 
The viroids have been detected  in intercepted tomato seed shipments.  PCFVd is known to 
be transmitted through the seed of infected cap sicum. Research in other countries suggests 
that PSTVd incursions in capsicum crops may be due to infection of imported capsicum 
seed and expert opinion supports this inference.  Research done by Australian government authorities indicates that similar viroid incurs ions in tomato crops occur when infected 
tomato seed is imported.  G/SPS/N/AUS/311 
Page 2  
 
  The Australian capsicum, tomato and potato production industries are put at risk by imports 
of capsicum seed that may be carrying viroids. 
9. 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)   
[ ] 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):   
The emergency measure will enter into force prior to 19 December 2012.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. 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 Point  
GPO Box 858  Canberra ACT 2601 Australia 
Fax:  +(61 2) 6272 3678 
E-mail:  sps.contact@daff.gov.au 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Australian Government Department of Agri culture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) 
GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601 
http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/import/icon-icd  
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_alertscontent.asp