The end of tomato imports

AQIS have just introduced new import conditions on tomatoes and all its immediate relatives, namely, the entire genus Lycopersicon. All imports must now have an import permit and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate stating that the seeds are free of Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid. This makes it too difficult and costly for the home gardener to import seeds. I think this puts an end to Australia's participation in the Cross Hemisphere Dwarf project. Bummer!

Ray, just wondering about what you said.

Do you know if this was a long term thought out plan, or did they come to this decision over night?? (so to speak)

I'm not up to date as much as what you are, so please excuse my question.....

Doesn't this protect our own tomato seed bank and plants from this disease? Or isn't it as big a problem as what the group that banned it thinks????

I've done a little research and this viroid has been around for some time in Australia: identified in commercial tomato production, detected in native Solanums and so on. Given that, it's difficult to understand why they have only just moved (July 24th) to control the import of at risk plant material. The hand of AQIS moves in mysterious ways!

Well this a strange if we have the darn disease already. They do work in weird ways don't they

I emailed AQIS about this. They've been looking at this viroid for some time. The outbreaks dicovered to date have all been traced back to imported seed. Each was eradicated successfully but at great cost. Biosecurity Australia decided that they were unwilling to spend such sums unless the current known pathways were blocked.
The action, then, seems entirely reasonable. Except that this pathogen is found in the wild, in our native solanums. That's where it falls down for me.
Anyway, the guy who replied to my email also said that the new conditions would, in all likelihood, be extended to other Solanaceae - no more capsicums, chillies, eggplants!

This is terrible. Especially for the cross hemisphere tomato grow out.

I got a hint of this when I got the "visit" from quarantine last year, after the moronic individual reported me as being 'part of a gang' of people importing seeds for sale etc. While AQIS were satified with my explanations they did indicate that there was concern about a, as yet, unidentified virus. Tasmania of course is subject to even more restrictions than the mainland. I'd be inclined to buy in as many 'commercially produced' seeds from Eden and other sources if you want heritage seeds before the boom gate closes. Ditto chilies, capsicums, eggplants etc.

edit - oops, you already said that.....

I was forever arguing with AQIS. They wanted to burn my Corn Salad seeds because, in Tasmania, we cant import corn from overseas. I had to explain that corn salad was a herb and not corn, please look at the scientific name.

Has Steve Solomon started up his seed business yet? I'm interested in some of the Solanacae family that have been bred to tolerate cool conditions ie eggplant and early tomatoes and early capsicums. I think I have got my chillis organised.

Who is Steve Solomon?

Leader of a gang are you Blossom

I'm disappointed - have put up buying seed because I'm indisposed - better check out what's available before it's gone though. Thanks for the info Raymondo

Answered my own question last night. A few weeks back I bought a book called Gardening When It Counts. I decided to look at it while in bed last night. The author is Steve Solomon. What a coincidence I thought. Started reading the intro and lo and behold, he lives in Tassie, having migrated from the US some years back. He started a seed company in the Pacific North West called Territorial Seeds which specialised in cool summer and winter hardy vegetables. He sold it in the 80s apparently but it's still going strong. Amazing!
Got Phoenix's new catalogue the other day and ordered a number of interesting looking things. There's always some interesting stuff in it. Tassie has a surfeit of good seed houses.

What does phoenix have Ray? I stayed in Snug O/N when I was in Tassie recently!!

I've heard good things about the cabbage Early Jersey Wakefield, Camas (Camassia quamash var. maxima) because it sounded interesting, capsicum Alma Paprika as my seeds didn't germinate, carrot St Valery because it's a mainstay in the Heligan garden, chilacayote just to try, kale Pentland Brig because I like kales, seakale just to try and a perennial sunflower, though I don't expect it to be perennial here!

I'll call in and get a catalogue, sounds interesting. I have to go and see the daughter soon and she is only minutes from Snug. Unless they mail it out. Might give them a call. The kale is what I'm after.