Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point

 Acknowledging  the  change  in  risk  profile,  the  department  is undertaking  an  extensive  review  of  the  existing  import  conditions  for  vegetable  seeds, including those for brassicaceous crops. The review identified two fungal pests, associated with  the  seeds  of  several  brassicaceous  crops,  as  meeting  the  International  Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) criteria for a quarantine pest. The identified quarantine pests are Colletotrichum higginsianum and Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp.  raphani. The unrestricted risks  of  these  quarantine  pests  do  not  achieve  the  appropriate  level  of  protection  (ALOP) for Australia.
This  review  evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  existing  risk  management  measures  for  the identified quarantine pests, and proposes additional mandatory phytosanitary measures to reduce  the  risk  of  their  introduction  into  Australia.  Standard  requirements  for  the importation of seeds for sowing apply to all brassicaceous seeds. The department  proposes additional  phytosanitary  measures  for  seeds  of  Brassica  oleracea,  Brassica  rapa,  Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativus. The proposed additional phytosanitary measures require:
-  Mandatory fungicidal treatment (off-shore or on-shore) for seeds of  Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa, Eruca vesicaria and Raphanus sativus as specified in this review;

-  Seed lots treated off-shore to be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate  endorsed  with  the  additional  declaration  that  the  consignment  has undergone mandatory treatment in accordance with Australian import conditions.