2017-17 - Horticulture Exports Program – Export application due dates and weeks of audit – Lychee exports to the United States of America – Mango exports to the United States of America, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea

2 May 2017

Purpose

To advise the lychee industry of the application due dates and weeks of audit for growers to nominate orchards / blocks for export to the United States of America (USA) and for packhouses and treatment facilities to apply for export to the USA in the 2017-18 season.

To advise the mango industry of application due dates and weeks of audit for growers to nominate orchards / blocks for export to the USA, China and the Republic of Korea and for packhouses and treatment facilities to apply for export to the USA, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea in the 2017-18 season.

Summary of changes and key points

• The tables below outline which entities require approval and the due dates for submission of applications to the Australian Lychee Growers Association (ALGA) or the Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA).
• ALGA and AMIA will forward completed application forms to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
• The export application due dates specified in the table are associated with the audit dates outlined in the table.
• Applications must list the approved crop monitor to be used for the 2017-18 export season. Crop monitors must successfully complete the online training course prior to submission of the application. Online training closes 7 July 2017.
• Entities must be prepared to have an audit undertaken during the audit period indicated on the application form and outlined in the table.  Please consult with ALGA or AMIA for assistance on selection of auditing dates, as the audit date selected will impact when entities can commence trade. Please note that audit dates must be selected carefully, once the department has scheduled an audit based upon the nominated audit dates, it may not be possible to reschedule.
• Please use the attached application forms to complete your application. Please note the department will not accept or further progress registration forms that are incomplete.

Identification and nomination of orchard blocks

• Growers may divide their orchard into blocks. Each block must be clearly identified on the application form and on the orchard map by its physical address or geographic co-ordinates. Further detail on map and block requirements can be found on the application forms.
• Growers exporting to the USA who exported during the 2016-17 season must title their block numbers the same as last season.
• Growers must use the block / orchard names submitted in the application for the entire season.
• Growers must have all nominated blocks surveyed by a crop monitor that has been approved by the department.
• All queries from growers, packhouses and treatment facilities regarding the application process and general market access must be forwarded to the ALGA or AMIA.

Submission of application forms

• Growers, packhouses and treatment facilities applying for lychee export need to complete and submit the relevant attached application form(s) to the ALGA email/postal address detailed on the relevant application form.
• Growers, packhouses and treatment facilities applying for mango export need to complete and submit the relevant attached application form(s) to the AMIA email/postal address detailed on the relevant application form.
• Once forms have been verified as complete by the ALGA and AMIA, these peak industry bodies must send the completed application forms to one of the following departmental contact addresses by 22 June or 14 July 2017:
  
  Audit Services
  
  Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
  Audit Services Group
  PO Box 63
  Export Park, S.A. 5950

Export preparation

• Audits can only be undertaken after crop monitoring has commenced. The above tables outline the weeks in which auditing periods commence. Growers must indicate their preferred auditing week.
• To enrol in the online training for lychees.
• To enrol in the online training for mangoes.
• The department will contact all entities applying for export to notify of audit dates and provide an audit briefing. Audits will be carried out against requirements in the Manual for Importing Country Requirements (Micor) Plants protocols and work plans. Following completion of audits, the results of audit and export approval numbers will be communicated to entities by the department. Orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities may also be audited by the National Plant Protection Organisations of USA, Japan, Korea and China following commencement of trade, in accordance with protocol conditions.

Further information

• For specific market requirements, refer to the relevant work plan and protocol on the Micor Plants website. To access work plans and protocols, you must be a registered Micor Plants user.
• To register for Micor, go to the registration webpage, complete all fields, and 'Submit'. You will be provided with your login details by email.

Background

The USA Operational Work Plan for the export of irradiated mangoes and lychees mandates that certain entities be approved by the department prior to commencement of the export season.

Protocols for the export of vapour heat treated mangoes to China, Japan and the Republic of Korea mandate that certain entities be approved by the department prior to commencement of the season.

It is a protocol requirement for the USA to be provided with the details of approved orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities 30 days prior to the export of mangoes and lychees. It is a protocol requirement for the Republic of Korea, Japan and China to be provided with details of approved orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities 14 days prior to the export of mangoes.

Contact information

All queries from growers, packhouses and treatment facilities regarding the application process and general market access must be forwarded to the ALGA and AMIA.

Australian Lychee Growers Association
PO Box 6120
Mooloolah QLD 4553
Phone: 0417 639 927
Email: ALGAEO

Australian Mango Industry Association
PO Box 376
Brisbane Markets QLD 4106
Phone: 07 3278 3755
Email: IDM

If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email: Horticulture Exports Program ACT.

Dr Chris Parker
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch