Japan adopts emergency quarantine measures for various imported seeds and seedlings

Since March 2022, the Japan Plant Prevention and Control Institute has taken emergency quarantine measures against imported seeds and seedlings carrying specific pathogens, including corn, broad beans, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, winter squash hybrids, bitter gourd seeds imported from China, and Seedlings for eggplant, winter squash and pumpkin hybrids, and bitter gourd.

From March 23, 2022, 100 corn seeds from China will be tested for corn bacterial fusarium wiltPantoea stewartii subsp.stewartiiDetection; for broad bean seeds from China, take 100 seeds for broad bean true mosaic virusBroad bean true mosaic virusdetection.

From May 2, 2022, emergency quarantine measures will be taken for eggplant seeds and seedlings (excluding seeds in fruits) from 33 countries (regions) including China (excluding Hong Kong) for cultivation. Phoenix mosaic virusPepino mosaic virus(PepMV) testing, if the imported quantity is less than 46,000 grains, 10% of the imported quantity shall be selected for testing; for eggplant seedlings, 1% of the imported quantity shall be sampled and young leaves (at least 1 leaf) shall be selected for PepMV testing.

From May 30, 2022, Japan will restrict the hybrids of winter squash and pumpkin from 20 countries (regions) including China.Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschataand bitter gourdMomordica charantiaSeeds and seedlings to take emergency quarantine measures: hybrids of winter gourd and pumpkin and bitter gourd seeds (excluding fruit) and seedlings for cultivation purposes are required to be tested for the melon fruit spot before export.Acidovorax avenae subsp.citrullitest and indicate the relevant information in the phytosanitary certificate.If the phytosanitary certificates of the above products have no relevant testing content, the batch of goods will be returned.If the above seeds and seedlings originate in China, on the basis that the phytosanitary certificate conforms to the regulations, corresponding tests should also be carried out when entering Japan.

From August 1, 2022, Japan will require the following for chili and tomato seeds (except fruits) imported from all countries (regions) as goods, mail, and carry-on items:

During harvest, a random sample of seeds from the mother plant is analyzed by appropriate detection methods [such as RT-PCR, a technique that combines reverse transcription (RT) of RNA and polymerase chain amplification (PCR) of cDNA]. Tested with suspected symptomatic seed samples, free of tomato brown wrinkle virusTomato brown rugose fruit virus(ToBRFV).

Or, before export, according to the procedures of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), randomly select 4,600 seeds from each batch of seeds as testing samples; if the number of seeds in a batch is less than 46,000 seeds, 10% will be selected as testing samples; Divide into subsamples containing up to 400 seeds.Seed samples were tested without ToBRFV using the real-time fluorescent RT-PCR method described in the International Seed Federation (ISF) Test Protocol (2020).

Japan also requires the following statement in the attached phytosanitary certificate Additional Statement: 'Compliance with the Regulations for the Implementation of Plant Protection (MAF Decree No. 73/1950), Schedule 2-2, Item 36 (appropriate numerator for the mother plant) Biological method detection)'or'Complies with the 'Plant Protection Implementation Regulations' (MAF Decree No. 73/1950) Schedule 2-2 Item 36 (Real-time fluorescent RT-PCR detection for seeds)'.

For imported pepper and tomato seeds, if the attached phytosanitary certificate issued after August 1, 2022 does not include the above statement, they will be returned; if the attached phytosanitary certificate issued before July 31, 2022 does not include According to the above statement, according to the measures implemented by Japan from April 11, 2022, 400 seeds need to be sampled after entering the country to detect ToBRFV by real-time fluorescence RT-PCR method (the real-time fluorescence RT-PCR detection has been confirmed before export. However, for pepper and tomato seeds originating in China and Italy, even if ToBRFV has been detected by real-time fluorescent RT-PCR method before export, it should be detected at the time of entry.