14 January 2025
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise the carrot industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses to export to Taiwan for the 2025 season.
Summary of changes and key points
- Applications are now open for the accreditation of carrot farms and packhouses from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia for the 2025 season.
- Growers and packhouses wishing to export carrots to Taiwan can submit their applications to be an accredited property to AUSVEG. Applications must be completed by 5pm AEDT, Friday 7 February 2025.
- Prior to the commencement of the season, farms and packhouses will be audited by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) to ensure they meet all protocol requirements.
- Farms and packhouses that pass our audit will also be subject to an audit against Taiwan requirements by the Taiwan Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) or the department on APHIA’s behalf.
- This notice does not apply to farms and packhouses in the states of Victoria or Tasmania. These states are recognised as free of burrowing nematode and therefore do not require farm or packhouse accreditation to export to Taiwan.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce. The protocol for exporting carrots to Taiwan mandates that farms and packhouses from some states and territories are accredited with us prior to the export season.
For specific market requirements, refer to the relevant workplan and protocol on the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) Plants. To access these documents, you must register as a Micor Plants user.
Accredited property responsibilities – Farms and packhouses
- Farms and packhouses must apply to be an accredited property annually.
- Requirements for accredited properties, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards, can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
- Farms and packhouses must be available for audits by the department to ensure compliance with the protocol and our requirements.
- Debt checks will occur on all accredited property applications. Properties with debt owing to the department will be notified and must pay or enter into a payment arrangement. Failure to do so will result in the accredited property application being refused.
Crop monitor responsibilities
- Online crop monitor training for carrots must be completed annually through our online learning portal – Learnhub.
- Crop monitors must complete the training and pass the assessment by Friday 7 February 2025.
- Only crop monitors who have completed the online training and passed the assessment are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
- Crop monitors will be audited by the department for compliance at the relevant accredited property audit.
Accredited property responsibilities – Farms
Farm managers must also meet the following requirements:
- Farm managers may divide their farm 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.
- Farm managers are required to have their soil tested annually to demonstrate that the accredited farms are free of burrowing nematode. The soil testing procedure must be followed in accordance with the Taiwan protocol for carrots.
- The soil testing must be conducted by an organisation approved by the department.
- Farm managers must submit the soil testing results, either with their application form at the time of departmental audit, or prior to the Taiwanese audit.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email export@ausveg.com.au.
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email horticultureexports@aff.gov.au.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch