1 November 2023
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise the citrus industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of citrus orchards or blocks to export to protocol markets for the 2024 season.
Summary of changes and key points
- Applications are now open for the accreditation of orchards or blocks intending to export citrus to South Korea, China, Thailand and New Zealand (Queensland growers only) for the 2024 season.
- Growers are to complete their application online through the Citrus Australia registration system. Applications must be completed by 5 pm AEDT, Friday 15 December 2023. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Note: All information in the application including ABN, contact details, accredited property maps and addresses must be complete and correct or the application may not be accepted.
- If your orchard or block was accredited by us for export to South Korea, China or Thailand in 2023, your details are already in the Citrus Australia system, and you will receive an email from Citrus Australia to re-apply. If you have not already received an email, please contact Citrus Australia.
- If you have not applied for accreditation in the past, please contact Citrus Australia.
- All nominated orchards or blocks must be surveyed by a registered crop monitor between 1 and 29 February 2024. Please contact Citrus Australia for further information on registered crop monitors.
- For each application, packhouse managers must ensure the crop monitor report, orchard map and electronic declaration that orchards have met quarantine requirements is signed are uploaded into the Citrus Australia online system by 5 pm AEDT, Friday 1 March 2024. If the farm and/or packhouse manager(s) themselves do not sign, the person signing the application must write “[Full name] - completed on behalf of [grower/packhouse name]”.
Specific market accreditation requirements
Growers exporting to the following markets must apply for accreditation.
- South Korea (all states; oranges and lemons only)
- China (all states)
- Thailand (all states)
- New Zealand (Only required for Queensland orchards. Orchards/blocks in states other than Queensland do not require accreditation for export to New Zealand).
Exports to all other markets do not require accreditation.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce.
The protocols for exporting citrus to specific markets mandate that citrus orchards or blocks are accredited or registered with the department.
For specific market requirements, refer to the relevant protocols and workplans in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must be a registered Micor Plants user.
To register for Micor, go to the registration page, complete all fields and then click ‘Submit’. You will be provided with your login details by email.
Grower responsibilities
- Growers must apply for accreditation annually.
- If your orchard or block was accredited in 2023, your details are already in the Citrus Australia online system. If you wish to change any details, do not delete your existing details. Please contact Citrus Australia to make amendments to existing details. Deleting properties may result in new accredited property numbers being assigned, which may impact access to protocol markets.
- Growers should upload a current map with their application which shows the whole orchard with blocks accurately outlined, and includes at a minimum:
- the orchard’s set boundaries, surrounding areas and major infrastructure (for example, packhouse, dam, dwellings) borders of each farm block within the orchard all individual blocks, major roads and packhouse, if applicable, labelled and identified on map
- maps must not be hand-drawn and must contain sufficient information to identify the exact physical location of the property. Aerial/satellite maps to scale are recommended.
- The application, orchard map and February survey uploaded to the Citrus Australia system must have consistent information (that is, farm address, number and names of blocks, and block sizes must be the same).
- Refer to the Guideline: Management of horticulture export accredited properties for further information.
- Applicants must be available for audits by us, to ensure compliance with the relevant work plans and protocols. Some entities may also be audited by the importing country authority.
- Audits will occur either pre-season and/or in-season (during harvest). Any grower that was not accredited during the 2023 season will be audited.
- Requirements for accredited properties, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards can be found in the Plant Export Operations Manual.
- Accreditation and/or continuation of accreditation will be reliant on audit outcomes.
Note: We will use a combination of announced and unannounced audits as part of its assurance process.
- Applicants will be advised of the application outcome, and accreditation number/s will be provided, via email correspondence.
- 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 in the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding applying for accreditation, please email Citrus Australia.
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
Gaylene Podhajski
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch