15 November 2019
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise mainland Australian apple and pear growers and packhouses that applications are now open for the accreditation of orchards/blocks and packhouses for exports to Thailand for the 2020 season.
Summary of changes and key points
- Applications must be submitted by 15 December 2019 using the Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) export registration system. Late applications will not be accepted.
- If your orchard or packhouse was accredited by the Department of Agriculture for exports to Thailand in 2019, your details are already in the system and you will receive an SMS from APAL advising that application for accreditation has commenced.
- If your orchard or packhouse was not accredited in 2019 and you wish to export to Thailand in 2020, please contact APAL to access the export registration system.
- Packhouses must provide a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) as part of their application which includes processes relating to
- grading, handling and packing of fruit
- hygiene programs
- dealing with pests of quarantine concern including treatment records
- a documented system to allow traceability of fruit back to the accredited orchard/block
- staff training.
- Packhouses that are accredited with the department last year do not need to provide an SOP.
- Following accreditation, the department may conduct audits of apple and pear growers and packhouses/storage facilities to ensure they meet all protocol requirements.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce. The protocols for apples and pears to Thailand mandate that the growers and packhouses need to be registered with the department prior to the commencement of the season.
Industry responsibilities
- For detailed information on export requirements, please refer to the work plan and protocol on the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) Plants website. To access these documents, you must register as a Micor Plants user.
- Requirements for accredited properties, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards, can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
If you have any questions regarding the export registration system please email APAL.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch