SeychellesTrade Portal

1.

Notifying Member: Seychelles

If applicable, name of local government involved: 

2.

Agency responsible:

National Biosecurity Agency Plant Biosecurity Services P.O.Box 464, Bel Air Complex, Victoria Republic of Seychelles Telephone: (+248) 4 324 000 Email: ceo@nba.gov.sc 

3.

Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):

Tomatoes Fresh – 0702.0000

Other relevant host

Benincasa hispida (wax gourd) – 0807.1990

Borassus flabellifer (toddy palm) - 0802.9021 and 0802.9022

Capsicum annuum (bell pepper) - 0709.6010 and 0709.6090

Citrullus lanatus (watermelon) - 0807.1100 and 0807.1990

Cucumis Melo (melon) - 0807.1990

Cucumis sativus (cucumber) – 0707.0000

Cucurbita Maxima (giant pumpkin) – 0709.9090

Cucurbita moschata (pumpkin) – 0709.9090

Cucurbita pepo (marrow) – 0709.9090

Dimocarpus longan ( longan tree) – 0810.9090

Ficus racemosa (cluster tree) – 0804.2010

Luffa acutangula (angled luffa) -0709.9090

Luffa aegyptiaca (loofah) – 0709.9090

Mangifera indica (mango) – 0804.5010

Manilkara Zapota (sapodilla) – 0810.9090

Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) - 0709.9090

Passiflora edulis (passion fruit) – 0810.9090

Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) – 0708.2000

Psidium guajava (guava) – 0804.5090

Trichosanthes cucumerina (snake gourd) – 0709.9090

4.

Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:

[ ]      All trading partners 

[X]    Specific regions or countries: Sri Lanka

5.

Title of the notified document: Temporary Restrictions on importation of fresh tomatoes and other relevant host.

Language(s):

Number of pages: 

6.

Description of content:

The notice relates to the decision taken for a temporary restriction on the importation of tomato and other relevant host (as listed in section 3) from Sri Lanka due to non-compliance with the phytosanitary requirements of the Seychelles.

The National Biosecurity Agency (NBA) of Seychelles will no longer be issuing Plant Import Permit for the importation of fresh tomato and other relevant host (as listed in section 3) from Sri Lanka.

7.

Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [X] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [X] protect territory from other damage from pests. 

8.

Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:

Urgent measure have been implemented to managed phytosanitary risk associated with the presence Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) tau (fruit fly) in Sri Lanka.

The decision has been taken following the recent incidence of imported infested tomato consignment from Sri Lanka. Upon inspection and verification of the consignment by the authorized Biosecurity Officers, the imported tomato were found to be infested with live fruit fly larvae.

The laboratory result shows that the imported tomato were infested with live larvae of fruit fly pest species suspected to be Bactrocera (Zeugodacus) tau, which is not present in Seychelles and it is categorized as a regulated/quarantine pest with economic importance. If the intercepted fruit fly pest species is established in Seychelles, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to deal with it consequences when taking into consideration factors cost implication, favourable climatic conditions and host availability.

It is very important to comply with phytosanitary requirements/conditions of Seychelles in order to prevent the introduction and spread of regulated/quarantine pests, diseases and/or invasive Alien Species (AIS) in trade for better Protecting the Agricultural, Development and Forestry Resources, Ecological, Diversity and the Environment of Seychelles.

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):

1. Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis (ISPM No. 2) 2. Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action (ISPM No.13) 3. Guidelines for lists of regulated pests (ISPM No. 19) 4. Guidelines for inspection (ISPM No. 23) 5. Guidelines for Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests (ISPM No. 27) 

[ ]        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 language(s) in which these are available:  

11.

Date of entry into force (dd/mm/yy)/period of application (as applicable): 2 May 2017   

[ ]      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:

Trade Division

Ministry of Finance, Trade and Economic Planning

P.O.Box 313, Victoria, Mahe

Republic of Seychelles

Email: enquirywto@finance.gov.sc

Website: www.seychellestradeportal.gov.sc  

13.

Text(s) available from: [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:

Trade Division

Ministry of Finance, Trade and Economic Planning

P.O.Box 313, Victoria, Mahe

Republic of Seychelles

Email: enquirywto@finance.gov.sc

Website: www.seychellestradeportal.gov.sc