9 June 2021
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise the cherry industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses, and registration of treatment facilities to export cherries to protocol markets for the 2021–22 season.
Summary of changes and key points
- Applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses to export cherries to China, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and Korea for the 2021–22 season.
- Applications must be received by 5pm AEST, Friday 16 July 2021.
- Farms and packhouses must complete the relevant application form/s through the following online systems
- For properties intending to export cherries from mainland Australia
- For properties intending to export cherries from Tasmania
Note: If your property was accredited in the 2020–21 season, you must still apply for the 2021–22 season.
- Farms and packhouses will be subject to audits by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
- Crop monitor training and assessment for cherries is available through the Tocal College online eLearning hub.
- Treatment facilities, that are not already a registered establishment, wanting to apply for
- methyl bromide fumigation of cherries for export to China and Korea, or
- onshore cold treatment of cherries for export to China, Taiwan and Thailand must download and complete the Application to register an establishment and/or approve a proposed arrangement (EX26a) and Application for registration as a plant export registered establishment and/or associated operations and functions (EX26d) and forward to the Certificate Management Group by 5pm AEST, Friday 16 July 2021.
- Treatment facilities previously registered for this export pathway do not need to reapply.
Specific market requirements
Export pathways for cherry protocol markets are:
- China – area freedom, cold treatment and fumigation
- Taiwan – area freedom and cold treatment
- Thailand – area freedom and cold treatment
- Japan (Tasmania only) – area freedom
- Korea – area freedom and fumigation.
For specific market requirements, refer to the relevant workplans and protocols on the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) Plants website. To access these documents, you must be a registered Micor Plants user.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce.
The protocols for cherries to China, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and Korea mandate that farms, packhouses and treatment facilities must be accredited or registered with us prior to export.
Accredited property responsibilities – Farms and packhouses
- Farms and packhouses must apply for accreditation annually (unless otherwise advised).
- Farms may divide their orchard into blocks. Each block must be clearly identified on the application form and on the farm map by its physical address or geographic co-ordinates. A block must be a contiguous unit and not be separated by structures such as a building, public road or body of water.
Note: For further information, refer to the Guideline: Management of horticulture export accredited properties. - Audits may occur pre-season and/or during the season (during harvest). Any farm or packhouse that was not accredited for the 2020–21 season will be audited pre-season.
- We can only accredit an entity for export if all protocol requirements are met.
- Requirements for accredited properties, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards, can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Crop monitoring responsibilities
Only crop monitors who have completed the online training and passed the assessment are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
- Online crop monitor training for cherries is now open via the Tocal College online eLearning hub.
- Crop monitors must complete the assessment by Friday, 13 August 2021.
Treatment facility responsibilities
- Treatment facilities must be a registered establishment and approved for the specific country, commodity and treatment combination for protocol markets.
- Treatment facilities that are currently approved for treatment functions under their registered establishment do not need to re-apply unless they would like to vary their approval by adding or removing a treatment function (country, commodity, treatment combination). To vary their approval, they must submit the Application to vary an establishment registration and/or approved arrangement (EX26b) and Application for registration as a plant export registered establishment and/or associated operations and functions (EX26d).
- Treatment facilities that are currently not approved for the countries, commodities and treatments they would like must submit the Application to register an establishment and/or approve a proposed arrangement (EX26a) and Application for registration as a plant export registered establishment and/or associated operations and functions (EX26d) and be audited and approved by us and the importing country where required.
Contact information
Please direct any queries regarding the online application systems to the peak industry body.
For farms and packhouses located in Tasmania:
Kate Dickinson
Fruit Growers Tasmania Inc. (FGT)
Email: trade@fruitgrowerstas.org.au
Phone: 03 6169 2059
For farms and packhouses located in mainland Australia:
Charlotte Brunt
Cherry Growers Australia
Email: data@cherrygrowers.org.au
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email Horticulture Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch