23 November 2023
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that applications are now open for the export of Hass avocadoes to India from Western Australian for avocado farms and packhouses that already hold accreditation for the Japan and/or Thailand protocol markets.
Summary of changes and key points
- Market access under the systems approach, conditional non-host status pathway has been granted for Hass avocados to India.
- The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor), has been updated to reflect the new market access.
- Farms and packhouses intending to export Hass avocado to India must be accredited for that market by the department prior to export.
- Applications are now open for Western Australian (WA) farms and packhouses who are already accredited for Japan and/or Thailand markets and intend to export Hass avocados to India for the 2023-24 season.
- Due to the timing of India’s announcement, applications for WA farms and packhouses not already accredited for Japan and/or Thailand markets cannot be accepted for the 2023-24 season. WA farms and packhouses that cannot apply due to the above restrictions, will be able to submit applications as part of the annual WA protocol application process for the 2024-25 season.
- Avocado farm and packhouse managers wanting to export to India must complete their application forms online through the Australian avocado export registration system by 5pm AEST, Friday 1 December 2023.
- Applicants are requested examine Micor and protocol conditions prior to uploading India specific Standard Operating Procedures, traceability documentation, crop monitoring records and the like, into the documents section of their online registration.
- WA farms and packhouses will be subject to an initial desk audit by us to this market for the 2023-24 season.
- All accredited properties may be subject to unannounced audit by us during the season consistent with accredited property audit guidelines.
- An application process for growers and packhouses located in eastern Australia will be undertaken in early 2024.
Background
Access was formally gazetted in November 2023, following the successful export to India of a number of trial consignments as part of India’s evaluation of the avocado export pathway.
The gazettal process allows avocado access from Australia to the Indian market subject to protocol export conditions including those outlined below.
Specific market requirements
Only fresh avocado (Persea americana) fruit of the Hass cultivar are permitted to be exported to India.
Further details on specific market requirements can be found on the relevant country and commodity case page on the Micor, with the protocol document also available in the ‘Documents’ of Micor.
Accredited property responsibilities – farms and packhouses
- Farms and packhouses must apply for accreditation annually (unless otherwise advised).
- 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.
List of required records
Farm
Documented practices that include the following:
- traceability system
- harvest practices (hard mature)
- management program for pests and diseases as specified by India in the systems approach protocol.
Packhouse
Standard operation procedures (SOPs) that address all India related processes including:
- receival and load out of avocado fruit
- grading, processing, and storage
- product traceability and segregation (e.g. domestic or the protocol product segregated from India compliant product)
- cleaning and hygiene systems.
Crop monitor training
- Only individuals who have completed the online crop monitor training and passed the assessment are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
- Crop monitors must have already completed the assessment, show an understanding of India’s pests of concern, and have this reflected in monitoring records.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Horticulture Exports.
If you have any questions regarding the avocado export registration system, please email Avocados Australia’s Export Development Manager.
Rossana Carr
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch