Management of FCM for EU exports:The FMS

Sean Moore & Paul Cronje

Citrus from AfricaExcluding lemons

Or an effective cold treatment

Or another effective treatmentto ensure freedom from FCM

Fruit must come from an FCM-freeCountry/area/place of production

THE FMS:Cutting Edge 238 – Oct 2017

Confirmed by DAFF – January 2018

Option C =Default export option, orElect this option

PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Pheromone trap monitoring

• Orchard sanitation

• Shipping options: booking codes with set point of 0°C or -1°C

For less severe shipping temps i.e. Options A and B

ADDITONAL PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Fruit infestation monitoring:

– to determine need for additional control measures

– to determine export option

• Packhouse delivery inspection

Pheromone trap monitoring

4 ha

Orchard sanitation

• On registration a declaration was made that it would be done – therefore do it!

• Do not sanitise underneath data trees!

• 4-6-weeks before harvest, declare on Phytclean that this has and is being done.

Fruit infestation monitoring

• Data station = 5 data trees

• One data station per orchard < 3 ha

• More if orchard > 3 ha

Fruit infestation monitoring

• Data station = 5 data trees

• One data station per orchard < 3 ha

• More if orchard > 3 ha

• Consult Phytclean for correct number of data stations

• If an outside party providing a service, be absolutely certain that YOU are filling in the gaps

• Enter TOTAL number of infested fruit into Phytclean

• A mistake on either of these could be disastrous!!

Fruit infestation monitoring

Determine need for additional control measure

• At least last 12 weeks before harvest

Determine export option

• Last 4 weeks before harvest

Threshold for both

• > 0.2 infested fruit per tree per week

Phytclean

• Enter data; will provide alerts; enter actions

OPTION C OPTION A OPTION B

PH inspection sample size None 600 600 (3°C)

1000 (3.5)1000 (D 4°C)1900 (PE 4°C)2800 (CT 4°C)

Packhouse delivery inspection• One inspection per orchard on first delivery to

packhouse

• Cut suspicious fruit

• Option A: >2 infested in sample

• Option B: >1 infested in sample

Option C

Option A or C

Packhouse grading

• Needs to be at least 66% effective!!

• Eye tests

• Train graders

• Equip graders (lighting)

• Incentivise graders

PPECB inspections

• 2% sample

• If any FCM, reject pallet for export to EU

• All pallets in which no FCM is found, can still go to the EU under Option A, B or C, if compliant with other applicable criteria.

Mixing of different fruit with different FMS categories

Pallet and/or container:

• Option shall default to the Option requiring the most severe shipping conditions i.e.

– B+A=A

– B+C=C

– B+A+C=C

– A+C=C

Shipping Option C (Default) Booking

code

Load-out

tempera

ture (°C)

Set

point

(°C)

Ports to which

applicable: Durban

(D), Port Elizabeth

(PE), Cape Town (CT)

Packhouse

delivery sample

size and

qualification

threshold

EC0 ≤1.2 0 D, PE, CT None

ECW0 <10 0 D, PE

EC01 ≤0 -1 D, PE, CT

EW01 <25 -1 D, PE, CT

• Low temperatures will result in higher incidence of chilling injury

• Not recommended for low quality fruit

• Weak colouration, small and over mature

Shipping Option A Booking

code

Load-out

temperature

(°C)

Set

point

(°C)

Ports to which

applicable: Durban (D),

Port Elizabeth (PE), Cape

Town (CT)

Packhouse sample

size and

qualification

threshold

EC2 <5 2 D, PE, CT 600 fruit. Live

FCM ≤ 2EW2 <25 2 D, PE (CT**)

EC1 <4 1 D, PE, CT

EW1 <25 1 D, PE, CT

**EW2 can be used out of Cape Town only if there was nomore than 1 infested fruit in the 600 fruit packhousedelivery sample

Shipping Option B• Only listed cold sensitive citrus types:• Marsh Grapefruit, Satsuma mandarin, Pummelo and

organically produced citrus

Booking

code

Load-out

temperature

(°C)

Set

point

(°C)

Ports to which

applicable:

Durban (D), Port

Elizabeth (PE),

Cape Town (CT)

Packhouse delivery

sample size and

qualification threshold

EC3 <5 3 D, PE, CT 600 fruit. Live FCM ≤ 1.

EC35 <5.5 3.5 D, PE, CT 1000 fruit. Live FCM ≤ 1.

EC4 <6 4 D 1000 fruit. Live FCM ≤ 1.

PE 1900 fruit. Live FCM ≤ 1.

CT 2800 fruit. Live FCM ≤ 1.

Temperatures still very low for these cultivars = risk of CIAll care must be taken to prevent CI

Ambient loading containers

• Precool containers to 3-5°C prior to loading

• Load pallets of same temperature range

• If possible load coldest pallets in last 4 positons

• Use void plugs in all containers to EU

• Insert an air temp. data recorder in each container to EU -Requirement

• If possible also insert a pulp recorder in position USDA 3

xUSDA 3

Check list for shipping to EU

• Loading facilities must measure pulp temperatures and provide records

• Pallet bases - CRI Packhouse guidelines 2018

• Cartons– Super Vent cartons mandatory

• Old A15C only allowed if FAC

– Open top cartons with addition diagonal bottom cut outs

• No wrapping of fruit

• Temp step up 30 days after gate in:– PPECB instruction; shipping liner must do it

FMS cold chain monitoring system

• Aim: Develop information gathering system to enable rapid response to shipment issues

– Will enable changes to FMS shipping codes within a 3-4 week period in season to reduce impact of any situation compromising continuation of citrus export to EU

• All exporters/packhouses must ensure– All data per container/consignment are stored

– Made available to FMS-steering committee on regular basis

Temperature measurements

• Use reliable supplier with integrated data system i.e. Sensitech

OR

• Test and evaluate new generation sensors

–Cell phone based technology

–Data reported independent of physical download

• MOST system

Conclusion

• The FMS has been proven effective

• But it is up to YOU to ensure that it does work

• The 2018 citrus export will be very different and difficult

• Ensure you have access to all relevant information

– Impact of FMS on cold chain

• What is allowed and what is not

• Remain focused on ensuring fruit quality is not compromised