b"about the same size or same color, it can be very difficult to get them all out of the seed. And so, there is always a potential, even under the best scenarios, for noxious weeds to be introduced along with seed consignments. So that's just one case. But I'll give you one case of a pathogen that is bothersome that we found out with this unsolicited seed stuff. APHIS has been evaluating the seed packets and just tabulating what kind of seeds they are and then what kinds of pests that may be associated with them. One of the pests that they have found is a regu-lated pestpotato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd). In this case, APHIS issued a fed-eral order last fall that regulates tomato and pepper seed coming into the United States for PSTVd. This is costing our seed compa-nies millions of dollars to comply with this. And here comes in unsolicited seed. That pathway can be a much higher threat in many cases to introduce these kinds of things than the regulated path-way, because seed companies are making every effort to produce seed free from allThe USDA APHIS has been inspecting unsolicited packs of seeds for phytosanitary risks unwanted pests and diseases, as anythingsince late July. that contaminates the seed reduces its purity and overall quality. Their goal is toThose viroids are of concern to us, butportive of, we're happy that's happened. produce the cleanest material they pos- so are noxious weeds. They have identi- As I said, APHIS is also working with sibly can free from pests and diseases.fied some noxious weed species; theyother e-commerce providers that may be Thats why that pathway is so concerninghaven't told us what those are.moving seed the same way and encour-to our industry, because these unwantedaging them to eliminate that from their seeds themselves could be pests. Or theySW: ASTA also mentioned recentlyportfolios as well. can be they can be carrying regulatedthat Amazon in particular isNow, on the on the ASTA side, we've pests that we don't want to have in theremoving their listings for seedsbeen reaching out to our counterparts United States. via their site. Is that something youin China, too. all have been working towards forWe have we have sources over there, SW: I know ASTA has spokena while or is that just somethingfor example, the China National Seed recently with APHIS for an updatethat kind of happened to reduceAssociation. We have a person that we of what what's been going onphytosanitary risks? work with in China under contract to concerning unsolicited seeds. HaveRD: That's something that APHIS hastry to get the word out and yet again, there been any major findingsbeen taking the lead on.trying to raise awareness through the that might be worrisome to ourThey've been negotiating with Amazonseed industry in China, because what-industry? as well as other e-commerce providers.ever they can be doing voluntarily, at RD: Well, the one I'm most aware of isAnd I think what Amazon has agreed toleast through their own industry, to dis-PSTVd, and they've also said there havedo is to remove the sale of seed packetscourage this, is important. been several other possible viroids, that'sthat are from foreign sources. TheyreThis kind of stuff hurts everybody. within the same group of viroids thatgiving up moving seed that is coming inWeve been pretty active and engaged PSTVd is a part of.from foreign sources electronically likein trying to do those things as well in our Again, the APHIS federal order includesthat.end.SWfive others of these possible viroids. That's something that we're very sup-DECEMBER 2020SEEDWORLD.COM /11"