13 May 2024
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise stakeholders of the temporary suspension of exports for certain commodities to Lebanon, following notification from Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture of revised import conditions.
Summary of changes and key points
- Australia has temporarily suspended exports some fruit fly host commodities (list of impacted commodities below) to Lebanon.
- Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) case for ‘All’ fruit has been amended with the list of suspended commodities.
- We are working with Lebanon to negotiate new importing country requirements. Until these conditions are agreed to, the export of impacted fruit is suspended.
- Micor will be updated as importing country requirements are confirmed.
Background
The Lebanese Republic, Ministry of Agriculture gazetted decree 528/1, outlining new phytosanitary measures to prevent the introduction and spread of fruit flies. The new phytosanitary measures apply to specified fruit susceptible to infection.
The temporary suspension of trade impacts the following commodities specified in decree 528/1:
- Citrus (Fortunella spp., Citrus spp., and Poncirus spp.)
- Custard apple (Annona spp.)
- Fig (Ficus carica)
- Guava (Psidium guajava)
- Mango (Mangifera spp.)
- Papaya (Carica papaya)
- Prunus (Prunus spp.)
Industry responsibilities
Do not export impacted commodities to Lebanon until such time as the suspension is lifted and requirements for exporting these commodities is updated in Micor.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Horticulture Exports Program.
Rossana Carr
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch