Australia Finalizes Nursery Stock Import Conditions for Xylella Pathogens

Australia has finalized import conditions for nursery stock to manage risks from bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella, covering tissue culture, cuttings, and budwood ****.

Regulation Analysis: Import Conditions for Xylella Host Nursery Stock in Australia

Australia has finalised import conditions for nursery stock (including tissue culture, cuttings, and budwood) to manage risks from bacterial pathogens in the genus Xylella. The requirements vary based on the risk classification of the country/region of origin and the type of plant material. Below is a structured summary of the key compliance obligations.

1. Risk-Based Import Conditions

The requirements differ depending on whether the exporting country/region is assessed as low-risk (Xylella not known to be present) or high-risk (Xylella present or risk of presence).

A. Low-Risk Countries/Regions

For host nursery stock (including tissue cultures) from low-risk countries/regions:

• Phytosanitary certification is required, confirming that export lots were produced and derived from mother plants in a country/region free from Xylella^{1, 2}.

B. High-Risk Countries/Regions

For host nursery stock (excluding tissue culture) and seeds for sowing of Carya spp. from high-risk countries/regions:

• Mandatory laboratory testing and disease screening must be conducted at the Australian Government Post-Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility to confirm the imported material is free from Xylella¹.

For host plant tissue cultures from high-risk countries/regions, requirements are strengthened as follows:

1. Mother plant testing (prior to establishment of tissue culture lines) replaces mother tissue culture testing for Xylella¹.
2. Authorised laboratories: Testing laboratories outside Australia must be authorised by Australia to perform Xylella testing for nursery stock exported to Australia¹.
3. PCR testing requirements:
   • One of the two PCR molecular tests for Xylella detection must be changed^{1, 2}.
   • New requirements for interpretation of results to ensure consistency and assurance^{1, 2}.
4. Documentation: Laboratory test reports must accompany phytosanitary certificates^{1, 2}.

2. Key Changes and Implementation

• Regulatory scope: Plant host regulation has shifted from family level to genus level².
• Implementation timeline:
  • The phased transition from emergency measures to the new import conditions commences on 20 January 2027 (revised from 20 October 2026)^{1, 2}.
• Publication of conditions: Revised import conditions will be available in the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON)^{1, 2}.

3. Compliance Table

4. Additional Notes

• Consultation and updates: The finalised conditions reflect submissions and new scientific information on Xylella hosts, distribution, and diagnostic assays².
• Contact for queries: The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is the designated authority for handling comments and inquiries (contact details provided in the sources^{1, 2}).
• Further details: For phased implementation specifics, refer to the DAFF website:¹(https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/import/goods/plant-products/how-to-import-plants/xylella-host-nursery-stock/conditions-for-xylella-host-nursery-stock).

Summary Answer

Australia’s finalised import conditions for Xylella host nursery stock impose risk-based requirements depending on the country/region of origin. For low-risk sources, phytosanitary certification confirming freedom from Xylella is sufficient^{1, 2}. For high-risk sources, mandatory laboratory testing (at Australia’s PEQ facility for non-tissue culture material) and strengthened testing protocols (for tissue cultures, including mother plant testing and authorised labs) apply¹. The new conditions take effect on 20 January 2027 and will be published in BICON^{1, 2}. The regulatory scope has also shifted from family to genus level for plant hosts². All requirements align with the finalised Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) report for Xylella^{1, 2}.

Sources

1. ↩ docs.wto.org — imrd / directdoc — imrd / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NAUS557A1C1.docx
2. ↩ docs.wto.org — imrd / directdoc — imrd / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NAUS557A1.docx