18 May 2022
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to importers of Carya species imported as seed for sowing, and their customs brokers.
What will be changing?
As advised through Industry Advice Notice 79-2022, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) outlined that new biosecurity emergency measures will be implemented to manage the newly identified risk of seed transmission of the plant pathogenic bacterium, Xylella fastidiosa through Carya spp. seed for sowing.
Phase 1 of the new biosecurity seed measures will commence on 20 May 2022, and the following requirements will apply:
- an import permit is required to import the following seed species imported for sowing purposes:
|
Carya alba |
Carya aquatica |
Carya buckleyi |
|
Carya buckleyi var. villosa |
Carya cordiformis |
Carya glabra |
|
Carya illinoensis |
Carya illinoinensis |
Carya laciniosa |
|
Carya oliviformis |
Carya ovata |
Carya pallida |
|
Carya pecan |
Carya texana |
Carya tomentosa |
|
Hicoria pallida |
Hicorius glabra var. villosa |
Hicorius laciniosa |
|
Hicorius pecan |
Hicorius villosa |
Juglans cordiformis |
|
Juglans glabra |
Juglans illinoinensis |
Juglans laciniosa |
|
Juglans oliviformis |
Juglans pecan |
|
- Importers may initiate an import permit application, through the ‘Apply for an import permit’ button located in the import conditions of the ‘Carya spp. as seed for sowing’ BICON case.
- To manage the risk of Xylella, imported seed must be grown and disease screened for a minimum of 12 months, at the Australian Government post-entry quarantine (PEQ) facility at Mickleham, Victoria. Before release from biosecurity control, the plants must be tested and found free from Xylella species.
- All other import conditions will continue to apply, including mandatory phosphine or cold treatment to mitigate the risk of insect pests.
The above requirements will apply to all synonyms and sub-ordinate taxa of affected species.
What are the next steps?
- The department will continue to monitor new evidence and assess the need to broaden Xylella risk management measures to additional seed or nut pathways.
- Any additional measures will be notified to affected stakeholders.
- Keep updated by subscribing to relevant BICON cases, using these instructions.
Further information
Interested in finding out more about Xylella? Read about it at Xylella and exotic vectors.
Enquiries about import conditions can be directed to 1800 900 090 or via email at imports@aff.gov.au (please title the subject line of the email with ‘Xylella emergency measures – Plant T2’).