This of relevance to those Australians who are actively engaging in importation of exotic seeds via these forums and the mail.

However there are also relevant lessons for non-Australians who are busy importing Australian native seeds into their countries.

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The Australian Government has prohibited importation of 3,335 potential weeds to protect the nation's agriculture and environment.

Conservation Minister Senator Ian Macdonald said today the removal of the potential weeds marked the end of the first stage of a major project to remove whole groups (genera) from the list of permitted seed imports.

"This is an important next step in protecting Australia's agriculture and environment from potential weeds," Senator Macdonald said.

The permitted seeds list (Schedule 5 of the Quarantine Proclamation 1998) has been amended to reflect the completion of stage one of the review. The Australian Government announced earlier this year that Biosecurity Australia would accelerate the review of the permitted seeds list.

Biosecurity Australia consulted widely on a list of 4,000 species recorded as weeds overseas and not considered present in Australia. The Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management prepared the list for the Worldwide Fund for Nature.

Following the consultations, Biosecurity Australia determined 3,335 species on the list were not present in Australia. Australia will permit imports of these species only if a weed risk assessment determines their weed potential in Australia is low.

"The review will enhance Australia's favourable pest and disease status by ensuring Australia does not import known weedy species," Senator Macdonald said.

"The second stage of the review will remove genus-level listings from the permitted seeds list (Schedule 5 of the Quarantine Proclamation 1998). This means Australia will target individual plants rather than groups of plants."

Biosecurity Australia is preparing information for consultations during the second stage of the review.

The second stage of the review will involve extensive consultation with over 400 stakeholders including the WWF, Australian Seeds Federation and the CRC for Australian Weed Management, as well as research to determine =

which species in over 2900 currently permitted genera are present and/or commonly traded in Australia.

"I expect the complete review of the permitted genera to be finalised by the end of next year," Senator Macdonald said.

Further information on the permitted seeds list review is available on the web site www.daff.gov.au/biosecurityaustralia