17 June 2022
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses, and the registration of treatment facilities, to export summerfruits to protocol markets for the 2022–23 season.
Summary of changes and key points
Farm and packhouses
- Applications are now open for farms and packhouses intending to export summerfruit to China, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam for the 2022–23 season.
- Summerfruit farm and packhouse managers wanting to export to China, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam should complete their application form/s through the Summerfruit Australia export registration system by 5pm AEST, Monday 18 July 2022. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Note: All information in the application including ABN, contact details, maps and property addresses must be complete and correct or the application may not be accepted. - Farms and packhouses will be subject to pre-season or in-season audits by the department.
- Crop monitors must complete the training and assessment for summerfruit through the Tocal College online eLearning hub by 25 July 2022.
Treatment facilities
Applications are now open for the registration of treatment facilities for:
- Methyl bromide fumigation of summerfruit for export to China
- Combination treatment (fumigation and cold treatment) of summerfruit for export to China
- Onshore cold treatment of summerfruits for export to China, Taiwan, Thailand and peaches and nectarines for export to Vietnam.
- Irradiation treatment of peaches and nectarines for export to Vietnam.
- Treatment facilities that are not already a registered establishment and want to apply for registered functions (fumigation, combination treatment, onshore cold treatment, and irradiation) must submit a completed
- 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) to the Certificate Management Group by 5pm AEST, Monday 18 July 2022.
- Treatment facilities previously registered for this export pathway do not need to reapply.
Background
Countries with protocols markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce. Farms, packhouses and treatment facilities intending to export summerfruit to China, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam must be accredited or registered with us, prior to export.
Specific market requirements
Export pathways for summerfruit protocol markets are:
- China – accreditation of all farms and packhouses; area freedom, registration of cold treatment, fumigation and combination treatment (fumigation plus cold treatment).
- Taiwan – accreditation of packhouses; area freedom and registration of cold treatment.
- Thailand – accreditation of all farms and packhouses; area freedom and registration of cold treatment.
- Vietnam – (peaches & nectarines) accreditation of all farms and packhouses; registration of cold treatment and irradiation treatment facilities.
For specific market requirements (including area freedom) refer to the relevant work plans and protocols in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor).
To access these documents, you must be a registered Micor Plant user. To register for Micor, go to the registration webpage, complete all fields and then click ‘Submit’. You will be provided with your login details by email.
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.
- Applicants must be available for audits, to ensure compliance with the relevant work plans and protocols. Some entities may be audited by the importing country authority.
- We can only accredit an entity for export if all protocol requirements are met.
- Audits will occur pre-season and/or during the season (during harvest). Any farm or packhouse that was not accredited for the 2021–22 season will be audited pre-season.
- Accreditation and/or continuation of accreditation is reliant upon audit outcomes.
Note: The department will use a combination of announced and unannounced audits as part of its assurance process.
- Requirements for accredited properties including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards, can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
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 would like to vary their approval must submit an 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) and be audited and approved by us and the importing country, where required (for onshore cold treatment approval is required from Taiwan and Thailand).
- 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.
Crop monitoring responsibilities
Only crop monitors who have completed the annual online training and passed the assessment are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
- Online crop monitor training is now open via the Tocal College online eLearning hub.
- Crop monitors must complete the assessment by Monday, 25 July 2022.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding the summerfruit export registration system, please email Summerfruit Australia.
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email Horticulture Exports Program.
Rossana Carr
A/g Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch