29 September 2020
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise the citrus industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of packhouses to export to protocol markets for the 2021 season.
Summary of changes and key points
- Applications are now open for the accreditation of packhouses to export citrus to South Korea, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, and USA for the 2021 season.
- Packhouses can complete their application forms through the Citrus Australia registration system. Applications must be completed by 5pm AEDT, Saturday 31 October 2020.
- Packhouses in South Australia and Queensland wishing to apply to export citrus to New Zealand must submit Form 2.2 (page 155) of the NZ Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement 6E Work Plan directly to Audit and Assurance Group. Packhouses are no longer required to submit an application for New Zealand through the Citrus Australia registration system. The NZ Bilateral Quarantine Arrangement 6E Work Plan can be accessed through the Work Plans and Protocols section of the Micor website. Access is restricted and requires a log in.
- If your packhouse was accredited by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for exports to the above protocol markets in 2020, your details are already in the system and you will receive an email from Citrus Australia. If you have not already received an email, please contact Citrus Australia.
- If your packhouse was not accredited in 2020 and you wish to export in 2021 to the protocol markets listed above, please contact Citrus Australia.
Specific market accreditation requirements
Packhouses exporting to the following markets must apply for accreditation:
- South Korea (all states)
- China (all states)
- Thailand (all states)
- Taiwan (South Australia only)
- Japan (South Australia only)
- USA (all states, excluding Queensland and Western Australia)
- New Zealand – must apply directly with Audit and Assurance Group (only South Australian and Queensland packhouses need to apply).
Packhouse responsibilities
- Packhouses must apply for accreditation annually.
- Applicants must be available for audits by the department, to ensure compliance with the relevant work plans and protocols. Some entities may be audited by the importing country authority.
- Audits by the department may occur pre-season and/or during the season. Any packhouse that was not accredited for the 2020 season will be audited pre-season.
- Requirements for accredited properties, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards, can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
- The department can only accredit a packhouse for export if all protocol requirements are met.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding applying for accreditation, please email Citrus Australia.
If you have questions regarding this IAN, please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch