Work Plan Australian apple and pear exports to Thailand · 2018-01-10 · Growers, packhouses, load out facilities and exporters are responsible for ensuring that consignments are

Document Title: Work Plan Australian Apple & Pear Fruit Exports to Thailand Date Published Current Version Number Document Owner Page Number

July 2016 2 Horticulture Exports Program Page 1 of 20

Plant Export Operations

Work Plan

Australian apple and pear exports to Thailand

Version Number: 2

Owner Assistant Secretary, Plant Export Operations Branch

Contact Director, Horticulture Exports Program

[email protected]

Availability Internal and External Trim File No. 2014/46691E

Published Date July 2015

VERSION DATE REVISION DESCRIPTION BY

1 NOV 15 First version AL

2 July 2 Changes to onshore cold treatment requirements and EXDOC

functionality AG/AL



CONTENTS CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................................... 2

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................... 3

1 SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................ 4

1.1 Permitted apple fruit ............................................................................................4

1.2 Permitted pear fruit .............................................................................................4

1.3 Mixed consignments ............................................................................................4

1.4 Import permit ......................................................................................................4

1.5 Quarantine pests and diseases .............................................................................4

1.6 Fruit fly pest free areas .........................................................................................4

1.7 Registered establishments ....................................................................................5

1.8 Export approval ....................................................................................................5

2 GROWER RESPONSIBILITIES ............................................................................................ 6

2.1 Orchard export approval ......................................................................................6

2.2 Integrated pest management ...............................................................................6

2.3 Orchard suspension ..............................................................................................7

3 PACKHOUSE/LOAD OUT FACILITY RESPONSIBILITIES .......................................... 8

3.1 Export approval ....................................................................................................8

3.2 Documentation ....................................................................................................8

3.3 Packaging and labelling requirements ...................................................................8

3.4 Container loading .................................................................................................8

3.5 Transfer certificates ..............................................................................................9

4 COLD TREATMENT............................................................................................................ 10

4.1 General cold treatment requirements ................................................................ 10

4.2 Onshore cold treatment ..................................................................................... 11

4.3 In-transit cold treatment .................................................................................... 13

5 INDUSTRY RESPONSIBILITIES ...................................................................................... 17

6 DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES ......................................................................... 18

6.1 Communication with Thailand DOA .................................................................... 18

6.2 Documentation .................................................................................................. 18

6.3 Audit……............................................................................................................. 18

6.4 Cold treatment ................................................................................................... 18

6.5 Export inspection ............................................................................................... 18

6.6 Rejection and suspension criteria ....................................................................... 19

6.7 Phytosanitary certification and additional declarations ....................................... 19

7 THAILAND DOA RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................... 20

7.1 Audit……............................................................................................................. 20

7.2 Import inspection ............................................................................................... 20



INTRODUCTION

This work plan incorporates the formal requirements of the protocols agreed between the Thailand Department of Agriculture (DOA), and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department) detailing the requirements for exporting apple or pear fruit to Thailand from approved production states. The protocols, “Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Conditions for Import of Apple Fruit from Australia B.E. 2556 (2013)” and “Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Conditions for Import of Pear Fruit from Australia B.E. 2556 (2013)” can be found on the department’s MICoR website (http://micor.agriculture.gov.au/Plants/Pages/default.aspx).

Where apple and pear fruit is sourced from outside a fruit fly pest free area or where certification of area freedom from fruit flies cannot be provided by the department, it is mandatory that apple and pear fruit be subject to cold treatment schedules stipulated by DOA to disinfest fruit against fruit flies.

State Governments are responsible for managing fruit fly in accordance with the Code of Practice and notifying the department of fruit fly interceptions and outbreaks within the recognised pest free area.

Definitions for terms used in this document may be found in the Plant Exports Operation Manual:

http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/export/plants-plant-products/plantexportsmanual.

http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/export/plants-plant-products/plantexportsmanual



1 SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS Apples and pears produced and sourced from the following areas are permitted for export to Thailand:

a fruit fly pest free area (PFA) in the Riverland or Tasmania, outside a fruit fly PFA in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and

Western Australia.

Orchards, packhouses, and treatment facilities must be export-approved by the department for export of apple and pear fruit to Thailand.

All fruit presented for export must comply with the Export Control Act 1982, its subordinate orders and Thailand’s import requirements as specified in the protocol. The department will verify that all requirements specified in the work plan are complied with, and will stipulate corrective actions in the case of non-compliance.

All costs associated with the delivery of this work plan (i.e. phytosanitary inspections, audits and verification, DOA verification and audit visits, etc.) are the responsibility of industry.

1.1 Permitted apple fruit

All varieties of apples (Malus domestica) are permitted for export to Thailand.

1.2 Permitted pear fruit

All varieties of pears of the following species are permitted for export to Thailand:

Ya pear (Pyrus bretschneideri)

European pear (Pyrus communis)

Nashi pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)

Siberian pear (Pyrus ussuriensis)

1.3 Mixed consignments

Mixed consignments of different species of fresh fruits (e.g. apples and pears) undergoing in-transit cold treatment are not permitted to be exported to Thailand.

1.4 Import permit

A valid import permit issued by DOA is required for each shipment of Australian apple and pear fruit exported to Thailand. An original and official translation of the import permit must be presented to an authorised officer approved by the department (AO).

1.5 Quarantine pests and diseases

Growers, packhouses, load out facilities and exporters are responsible for ensuring that consignments are free from all pests of quarantine concern to Thailand. The pests and diseases that are of quarantine concern to Thailand are listed for apples in Table 1 and pears in Table 2.

1.6 Fruit fly pest free areas

Export of fruit from defined fruit fly PFAs must include the area freedom additional declaration on the Phytosanitary Certificate. A transfer certificate must be used for any fruit movements from PFAs.

The following defined areas, unless under current suspension, in Australia are recognised by DOA, as PFAs for Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly.

The state of Tasmania



The Riverland district defined as the following areas:

• State of South Australia: the County of Hamley and the following geographic sub-divisions: Bookpurnong, Cadell, Eba, Fisher, Forster, Gordon, Hay, Holder, Katarapko, Loveday, Markaranka, Moorook, Murbko, Murtho, Nildottie, Paisley, Parcoola, Paringa, Pooginook, Pyap, Ridley, Skurray, Stuart and Waikerie.

• State of Victoria: Parish of Olney in the Shire of Mildura.

1.7 Registered establishments

A facility must be a departmental registered export establishment and meet the requirements of the Export Control Act 1982 and its subordinate orders when:

• it is the final establishment inside the fruit fly PFA, and thereafter,

• export inspections are performed,

• where containers are loaded for export (sea and air), or

• where onshore cold treatment is performed, and thereafter for compliant goods.

1.8 Export approval

Growers and packhouses must be export-approved by the department via Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) or Fruit Growers Tasmania (FGT). Growers and packhouses must submit completed applications by the nominated date as specified in the Industry Advice Notice (IAN) before the beginning of each export season. Growers agree to carry out orchard hygiene and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to ensure that all quarantine pests of concern to Thailand are adequately managed (s2.2, Table 1 or 2).

Onshore cold treatment facilities must be registered establishments (s.1.7) and jointly approved for export to Thailand by DOA and the department.

The department shall provide DOA with a list of all exported-approved growers and packhouses before the start of the export season.



2 GROWER RESPONSIBILITIES Growers are responsible for ensuring that their orchards and export fruit meet the requirements for Thailand.

2.1 Orchard export approval

Growers must apply for export approval of all commercial apple and pear orchards that they intend to supply fruit from for export to Thailand each season. Orchards may be divided into blocks with the orchard application. Each non-adjoining orchard (i.e. not at same address) must be separately listed, and may be sub-divided into blocks for management purposes. A block must be clearly identifiable. Application forms must include:

Nominated packhouse(s)

Maps and addresses that provide searchable identification of individual sites (through online mapping programs e.g. google maps).

Orchards will be issued with an individual export approval number upon successful verification, including any block subdivisions as suffixes (e.g. Orchard number will be a four digit number with blocks identified as XXXX-1, XXXX-2 etc.) each season.

Growers are responsible for:

Providing a copy of the orchard application form, or departmental confirmation correspondence, to their Thailand export-approved packhouse.

Keeping a copy of the orchard export approval notification for auditing purposes.

Familiarising themselves with auditing requirements.

2.2 Integrated pest management

Australian apple and pear growers intending to apply for export to Thailand agree, in signing their application declaration, to carry out pest monitoring and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to ensure that all quarantine pests and diseases of concern to Thailand are adequately controlled (see Table 1 or 2 for apples or pears respectively). Failure to implement IPM will result in failure to gain certification for export to Thailand.

Pest monitoring and IPM shall be conducted according to standards developed by industry and approved by the department. Industry will provide all growers with industry standards and IPM documentation relating to pests and diseases of concern to Thailand.

Growers are responsible for implementing IPM including:

monitoring for, and control of, quarantine pests and diseases, and

maintaining evidence of such actions (i.e spray diaries).



Table 1. Pests and diseases of quarantine concern for apples to Thailand

Scientific name Common name Insects Pantomorus cervinus Fuller's rose weevil Bactrocera tryoni Queensland fruit fly (QFly)

Ceratitis capitata Mediterranean fruit fly (MedFly)

Bactrocera jarvisi Jarvis' fruit fly Bactrocera neohumeralis lesser Queensland fruit fly Parthenolecanium corni European brown scale

Diaspidiotus ostreaeformis pear oyster scale Parlatoria pittospori mauve pittosporum scale Lepidosaphes ulmi oyster shell scale

Pseudococcus calceolariae citrophilus mealybug Helicoverpa punctigera native budworm Epiphyas postvittana light brown apple moth (LBAM) Thrips imaginis plague thrips Mites Brevipalpus obovatus privet mite Fungi Botryosphaeria dothidea canker of almond

Table 2. Pests and diseases of quarantine concern for pears to Thailand

Scientific name Common name Insects Bactrocera tryoni Queensland fruit fly (Qfly)

Ceratitis capitata Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly)

Bactrocera jarvisi Jarvis' fruit fly Bactrocera neohumeralis lesser Queensland fruit fly Parthenolecanium corni European brown scale

Parthenolecanium persicae peach scale Aspidiotus nerii oleander scale Ceroplastes sinensis Chinese wax scale Epiphyas postvittana light brown apple moth (LBAM) Thrips imaginis plague thrips Fungi Monilinia fructigena brown rot

2.3 Orchard suspension

A grower may suspend their export approval status, at any time, by written notification to the department.

Where orchards (or blocks) can no longer be deemed free of quarantine pests for Thailand, the grower must suspend their export status.



3 PACKHOUSE/LOAD OUT FACILITY RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Export approval

Packhouses must apply specifically for export approval for Thailand each season. Application forms must be completed, and provided to the department, via APAL or FGT, by the due date as specified in the Industry Advice Notice (s1.8). Forms must include the following:

Declaration of the facility operator’s agreement to comply with this work plan.

A list of all orchards that intend to supply apple and/or pear fruit for export to Thailand.

Packhouses must ensure that only fruit from Thailand export-approved orchards are packed for export to Thailand. During the grading and packing process, inspections should verify the fruit is free from pests of quarantine concern for Thailand.

3.2 Documentation

Packhouses must have documented Standard Operation Procedures that describe all processes relating to grading, handling and packing of fruit.

Packhouses are responsible for maintaining a documented system to allow traceability of fruit back to the orchard/block. Packhouses must record and keep on file the following documentation:

current copy of packhouse export-approval notification for Thailand

a list of all orchards that intend to supply apple and/or pear fruit for export to Thailand

receival / loading records

records relating to implementation of hygiene programs

list of suspended orchards for the season.

3.3 Packaging and labelling requirements

3.3.1 Packaging requirements.

Only new and clean cartons are permitted. All wood packing material must be ISPM No. 15 compliant.

3.3.2 Labelling requirements

The following information must be on each package (printed, not handwritten):

‘Produce of Australia’

Name of exporting company

Name of the fruit (common name)

Packhouse export approval number

Orchard export approval number.

Each pallet must have ‘EXPORT TO THAILAND’ on a pallet card on all four sides. For unpalletised loose cartons this must be on the carton label.

3.4 Container loading

In fruit fly PFAs, following phytosanitary inspection, fruit must be loaded into shipping containers, or airfreight security applied, within the PFA in which the product was grown.



Security must be in place to ensure consignments are not exposed to possible infestation/ contamination by quarantine pests after inspection. All product must be secured and transported under an endorsed transfer certificate following treatment or inspection.

3.4.1 Air freight

Air freight is permitted either with secure loose cartons or as secure palletised loads. Each carton or pallet must be securely sealed in a registered establishment (within the PFA, if fruit has been produced in the PFA) before movement for export.

Fruit must be packed for air freight in closed containers in one of the following ways:

Fruit within a carton must be enclosed in net or plastic bags that are sealed by multiple folds and placed in boxes, net bags or fully wrapped in netting. The diameter of netting holes must be ≤ 1.6 mm.

Fruit can be packed in cartons that are fruit fly proof. All holes, openings or vents in cartons shall be covered with netting with holes of ≤1.6 mm.

If palletised or otherwise bundled, the pallet or bundle must be fully enclosed by a net of ≤ 1.6 mm or sealed in plastic.

Where security is established by palletisation, air freight consignments must not be deconsolidated until arrival in Thailand, and the transfer certificate must state this requirement (or require a label stating ‘Not to be deconsolidated’ on each side of the pallet). Deconsolidation of secure pallets will breach fruit fly freedom and void certification.

3.4.2 Sea freight

Loading of fruit will be undertaken at a registered establishment and the loading of containers will be supervised by an AO.

Any open sea container vents must be covered with fruit fly proof netting to prevent the entry of pests. Netting with openings of ≤1.6 mm are considered fruit fly proof.

Where fruit is not being loaded into sea containers at the inspection establishment, cartons or pallets must be secured before leaving the inspection establishment (and moved under authorised transfer certificate) to another establishment for loading.

An authorised officer approved by the department must observe the placement of a unique numbered seal on the sea container door and record the container and seal number on the accompanying Phytosanitary Certificate. The seal number must also be noted on the calibration certificate if under ITCT.

Container doors are to be sealed and must not be opened until import inspection in Thailand.

3.5 Transfer certificates

Transfer certificates are required for consignments to be transported between export registered establishments. A transfer certificate is required for each consignment in the following situations:

transportation (other than in sealed sea freight containers) from the PFA transportation after treatment transportation after export inspection.



4 COLD TREATMENT

4.1 General cold treatment requirements

Cold treatment for fruit flies of quarantine concern is mandatory for all non PFA fruit.

Cold treatment is assessed on fruit pulp temperature sensors only, not air temperature sensors.

4.1.1 Cold treatment schedule

The treatment schedules in Tables 3 and 4 apply for onshore or in-transit cold treatment.

Table 3. Cold treatment schedule for the disinfestation of Queensland fruit fly in apple and pear fruit originating from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria

Innermost fruit pulp temperature Exposure period

(consecutive days)

0°C (32°F) or below 13 days or more

0.56°C (33°F) or below 14 days or more




Table 4. Cold treatment schedule for the disinfestation of Mediterranean fruit fly in apple and pear fruit originating from Western Australia

Innermost fruit pulp temperature Exposure period

(consecutive days)




4.1.2 Requirements for temperature recorders

Temperature recorders used in onshore and in-transit cold treatment must meet the following requirements:

The recording system comprising the recorder and its associated sensors must be accurate to ±0.3 °C in the range of -3 °C to +3 °C.

Each sensor must be identified with the same number identical to that displayed on the printout produced by the temperature recording system.

Sensors must have an outer sheath diameter of 6.4 mm or less. The sensing unit must be located within the first 25 mm or less of the sensor tip.

The system must be capable of automatic operation and be able to accommodate a minimum of four fruit temperature sensors for onshore cold treatment and three fruit pulp temperature sensors for in-transit cold treatment.

The recorder must be capable of continuous recording of date, time, sensor number and temperature during all calibrations and for the duration of the treatment period.



The recorder must automatically record temperatures at least hourly with a resolution of 0.1°C and store data until the information can be examined by DOA.

The recorder must be capable of producing a printout and store data identifying each temperature sensor, the time and temperature and the identification number of the cold treatment facility.

4.1.3 Calibration of temperature sensors

Calibration of the temperature recorder and temperature sensors must occur under the supervision of an AO before each treatment is initiated. Calibration must be conducted in an ice slurry mixture. Two consecutive readings must be taken and have a variance of less than 0.1°C. Readings must be taken between 1 and 5 minutes apart.

If any sensor reads more than ±0.3°C from 0°C during the ice slurry recalibration, the treatment is considered to have failed and the sensor must be replaced.

4.2 Onshore cold treatment

4.2.1 Export Approval

Only facilities approved by the department and DOA can perform onshore cold treatment for apple and pear fruit exports to Thailand. Cold treatment facilities must apply to the department, via APAL, to conduct onshore cold treatment for Thailand in accordance with the Industry Advice Notice (s1.8).

The following information must be provided as part of the application:

facility location and layout

contact details of owner/operator

dimensions of the facility and each cold room capacity

the type of insulation used in the cold rooms

the make, model, type, and capacity of the refrigeration condenser and evaporator air circulation

the temperature range of the equipment, defrost cycle control and specifications and details of any integrated temperature-recording equipment.

An AO must supervise loading of palletised fruit into the cold room.

Two air temperature sensors are required, but these are not used to assess cold treatment efficacy.

Apple and pear fruit for Thailand can be treated at the same time as fruit destined for other markets in the same cold room provided all conditions for Thailand are met.

4.2.2 Placement of temperature sensors

A departmental authorised officer must supervise the commencement and completion of onshore cold treatment including probe placement.

Fruit must pass inspection prior to the commencement of onshore cold treatment.

The fruit selected shall be the largest size fruit in the lot. With small fruit, the sensor may need to penetrate two or more fruit. The sensor tip must not extend beyond the fruit.

Temperature sensors must be placed in the cold room in the following locations:



A minimum of two air temperature sensors are to be located at the air inlet and outlet locations

Pulp temperature sensor - one at the centre of the stack, in the centre of the cold room

Pulp temperature sensor - one at the corner of the top stack, in the centre of the cold room

Pulp temperature sensor - one at the centre of the stack near the cold air outlet

Pulp temperature sensor - one at the corner of the top stack near the cold air outlet.

Treatment will commence once all fruit pulp temperature sensors have reached the nominated treatment temperature.

Fruit for export to China and Thailand may be treated concurrently as long as the more

stringent cold treatment schedule is applied and the treatment facility and room are approved

for both countries.

4.2.3 Verification of treatment

Cold treatment is considered successful only once the sensors have been recalibrated and records confirm that the time and temperature schedule has been met. The probes must be recalibrated under the supervision of an AO to ensure accuracy has been maintained. It is recommended that the treatment temperature is maintained and the fruit remain in the treatment room until sensor recalibration has been completed.

If any sensor shows a higher calibration factor at the completion of treatment than the initial calibration setting, the recordings from the sensor(s) may be adjusted. If this adjustment reveals that the treatment schedule was not met, the fruit may be re-treated at the discretion of the department and the exporter.

The department must endorse printouts of temperature records and confirm that a treatment has been successful. These records must be kept for DOA audit. The cold treatment is completed once the treatment records are endorsed by an AO as ‘COMPLETED’.

The treatment facility must keep records of all cartons loaded into each chamber and dispatch records for each treatment room.

A Thailand onshore cold treatment calibration and re-calibration certificate and treatment temperature record must accompany the phytosanitary certificate for the first commercial export consignment from each treatment room each calendar year.

The name and number of the registered establishment where cold treatment was conducted, treatment temperature and treatment period (number of consecutive days) must be listed on the phytosanitary certificate.

4.2.4 Continuation of a failed treatment

If the minimum four fruit pulp sensors have been used and a fruit pulp sensor fails to record a temperature for more than four consecutive hours, the treatment may be restarted at the discretion of the department.

If the treatment records reflect failure, the temperature recorder may be reconnected and the treatment continued from the time of recorder reconnection providing that:

An AO examines the final treatment records to ensure the treatment has completed and sensors are successfully recalibrated; OR



The data recorder begins recording temperatures less than 24 hours after the treatment is considered to have failed, and an AO examines the final treatment records to ensure the treatment has completed and sensors are successfully recalibrated.

4.2.5 Loading and storage of treated fruit

Fruit that has been treated must be securely stored if it is not being immediately exported:

Treated fruit may be stored in the treatment room of the approved treatment provider, providing the treatment room doors are sealed.

OR

Treated fruit may be moved to another room provided it is moved in a secure manner to prevent possible infestation. The storage room must not contain any untreated fruit. An authorised officer approved by the department must monitor all movements.

For fruit that is loaded following treatment, fruit must be loaded into the sea container, or prepared to meet airfreight security requirements, inside fruit fly proof rooms or with fruit fly proof enclosures in place during loading under the supervision of an authorised officer approved by the department. Treated fruit is not to be re-processed or repacked.

4.2.6 EXDOC Certificate Request functionality

The department strongly recommends clients utilise EXDOC’s Certificate Request “C”

functionality for the export of onshore cold treated horticulture produce to Thailand.

EXDOC Certificate Request functionality enables the commodity listed in the Request for Permit

(RFP), which has been inspected and treated for export, to be assigned to multiple

phytosanitary certificates.

There are specific rules that need to be adhered to when using Certificate Request functionality including ensuring the destination country and exporter are the same for all RFPs

4.3 In-transit cold treatment

Fruit intended for in-transit cold treatment (ITCT) must be pre-cooled to, or below, the target treatment temperature before loading.

Containers must be suitable for ITCT (i.e. capable of holding temperature for required period), and have all drain holes and vents secured with mesh (<1.6mm).

Containers must be calibrated in accordance with s4.1.3 and an authorised officer approved by the department must enter the calibration readings from all three fruit pulp temperature sensors onto the calibration certificate. The calibration certificate must be attached to the phytosanitary certificate accompanying the consignment.

4.3.1 Placement of temperature sensors and loading of container

Placement of the minimum three fruit pulp temperature sensors must take place under the direction and supervision of an AO.

The sensors used to measure pulp temperature must be inserted into the centre of the fruit, and the tip must not protrude beyond the fruit. The fruit selected shall be the largest size fruit in the lot. With small fruit, the sensor may need to penetrate two or more fruit.



The container is to be loaded so that airflow around the produce inside the container is not restricted, which may affect the readings of the temperature sensors. Containers must be loaded in a manner to ensure that infestation/contamination by quarantine pests does not occur.

Fruit temperature sensors musts be placed in the boxes as below:

Pulp temperature probe 1 – at the mid-height of the stack, on the left side of the container, approximately 1.5 m from the far end of a 12 m (40 ft) container; or approximately 1 m from the far end of a 6 m (20 ft) container.

Pulp temperature probe 2 - at the mid-height of the stack, in the centre of the container. Pulp temperature probe 3 - at the mid-height of the stack, on the right side of the

container, approximately 1.5 m from the door end of a 12 m (40 ft) container; or approximately 1 m from the end door of a 6 m (20 ft) container.

See Figure 1 for a representation of required probe placement positions.

A numbered metal seal must be used to seal the container, with the seal number recorded on the phytosanitary certificate.



SIDE VIEW

Figure 1. Sensor placement in containers for in-transit cold treatment

Sensor No. 3 Sensor No. 1 Sensor No. 2

1 metre

1.5 metres

No.1

No .3

No.2

TOP VIEW

6 metre (20 foot) container

Sensor No. 3

Sens

or No. 2

Sensor

No. 1

Sensor No. 3

Sensor No. 2

Sensor No.

1

DOOR VIEW

TOP VIEW 12 metre (40 foot) container



4.3.2 Verification of treatment

ITCT temperature records are to be downloaded by a representative of the shipping company on arrival in Thailand, and the records provided to a DOA officer at the port of entry.

4.3.3 Continuation of failed treatment

ITCT may be completed on arrival in Thailand if the treatment has not been completed during the voyage.

If re-calibration of the fruit sensors at the end of the treatment displays a higher than initial calibration setting, the recordings from the sensor(s) will be adjusted and assessment will be repeated incorporating this adjustment.



5 INDUSTRY RESPONSIBILITIES Industry must adhere to the instructions provided by the department through the Industry Advice Notice and provide an IPM plan, which must be approved by the department prior to season commencement. APAL and FGT will coordinate export applications on behalf of growers and packhouses and provide all applications and a consolidated list to the department by the nominated due dates each season (s1.8).

Industry will provide all export-approved growers and packhouses with industry standards and IPM documentation relating to pests and diseases of concern to Thailand.



6 DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

6.1 Communication with Thailand DOA

6.1.1 Fruit fly

The department must inform DOA immediately if any fruit fly outbreak is confirmed, if there is any suspension of area freedom, and reinstatement dates. This includes any species of fruit fly of economic importance in addition to those listed in section 1.4.

6.1.2 Grower, packhouse and treatment facility export approval

On request the department will forward to DOA the list of orchard/block numbers for those compliant orchards and blocks; and the list of compliant packhouses and treatment facilities.

The department will promptly notify DOA of any new applications, or amendments to existing applications including as a result of failure to comply with Thailand’s requirements.

6.1.3 Orchard management

If requested, the department will provide information to DOA on the management program undertaken for apple and pear fruit throughout the growing season.

6.2 Documentation

The department will maintain a list of all export-approved growers, packhouses and treatment facilities.

The department maintains records in accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988.

6.3 Audit

The department may carry out audits to ensure compliance with the work plan. These audits will include treatment facilities, packhouses, and orchards including crop monitoring records.

6.4 Cold treatment

The department will supervise those aspects of onshore and in-transit cold treatment, as detailed in s.4 respectively Key points are:

calibration of probes and production of records

sensor placement

treatment verification and recalibration (onshore cold treatment only)

verification of loading and security.

6.5 Export inspection

A phytosanitary inspection will be conducted on all apple and pear fruit shipments to Thailand in accordance with the procedures in the Plant Export Operations Manual. Export inspection must occur in registered establishments.

An authorised officer approved by the department must ensure that fruit in the consignment is free from any pests of quarantine concern during the inspection.

If detections of quarantine pests are made by packhouse staff or AOs at any stage, the department may conduct an audit to identify failures in the system. If critical failures are identified, the packhouse, and/or the orchard may be suspended from exporting until systems can be demonstrated to be fully effective.



6.6 Rejection and suspension criteria

6.6.1 Detection of fruit flies

If any live fruit flies of quarantine concern (see table 1 or 2) are detected during inspection, the consignment cannot be exported. No reconditioning is permitted. When the fruit has originated from a non PFA and has been subject to onshore cold treatment, the cold treatment facility will be suspended until the cause of the infestation of fruit fly of quarantine concern is investigated by the department.

If the fruit has originated from a PFA, that area will be suspended and trade will not recommence until the cause of the infestation is investigated by the department.

6.6.2 Detection of other pests of quarantine concern

If live quarantine pests other than fruit fly are detected, the consignment will be rejected. The consignment can be exported after appropriate treatment or reconditioning, and following successful re-inspection by an AO.

6.7 Phytosanitary certification and additional declarations

For sea shipments, both the container and seal number must be recorded on the phytosanitary certificate. Airfreight consignments should have the flight number, if known, included on the phytosanitary certificate.

The phytosanitary certificate must also contain:

Export-approved packhouse number under item 12 (Distinguishing marks and Container nos.). This must be entered into the “shipping marks” section of the EXDOC Request For Permit (RFP) and be in the example format of: PACKHOUSE NO: XXXXX.

The common name apple or pear fruit.

If cold-treated onshore:

o The name and number of the registered establishment and room number where onshore cold treatment was conducted must be entered in the ‘Lot number’ field (a free text field) of the EXDOC Request For Permit (RFP) and be in the example format of: ONSHORE COLD TREATMENT AT REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENT NAME / REGISTERED ESTABLISMENT NUMBER – TREATMENT ROOM NUMBER. For example, ONSHORE COLD TREATMENT AT ABC FREIGHT / 9999-1.

o Details of the treatment temperature and period (no. of consecutive days) are to be entered in the DISINFESTATION AND/OR DISINFECTION TREATMENT section.

o A Thailand onshore cold treatment calibration and re-calibration certificate and treatment temperature record must accompany the phytosanitary certificate for the first commercial export consignment from each treatment room each calendar year

If cold-treated in-transit, the original ‘Certificate of calibration for in-transit cold disinfestation treatment in self-refrigerated container’ must accompany the phytosanitary certificate.

Container and seal number (for sea freight).

All apple or pear fruit exported under this work plan must bear additional declarations as stated on the department MICoR database: http://micor.agriculture.gov.au/Plants

http://micor.agriculture.gov.au/Plants



7 THAILAND DOA RESPONSIBILITIES Thailand DOA will notify the department following three reports of non-compliance for an export-approved orchard. Certification of apple or pear fruit to Thailand from the export-approved orchard will be suspended for the rest of the export season.

7.1 Audit

If the program is suspended by DOA due to interception of a pest of quarantine concern, or any irregularity, the program will remain suspended until the department and DOA are satisfied that the cause of the non-conformity has been identified and suitable corrective measures have been implemented. DOA may order a re-audit.

7.2 Import inspection

Upon arrival, DOA must be able to confirm the following:

a phytosanitary certificate has been issued with the necessary inclusions listed in s6.8

markings on the pallet or carton are accurate, complete and correct (ref s3.2)

carton / pallet is appropriately sealed

export-approved orchard and block number on the packaging

container seal was not broken or replaced, and that the seal number matches that on the phytosanitary certificate

treatment records show that a nominated onshore or in-transit cold disinfestation treatment was successful

the temperature sensor does not extend beyond the fruit and the fruit is not ruptured, and that the probe is located in specified positions

container doors are completely closed.

For the case of apple or pear fruit treated with ITCT, the DOA Bangkok office will verify the efficacy of the treatment, and advise the DOA officer at the port of entry that, subject to probe calibration, the treatment is complete.

In the case of non-compliance with one or more of the above requirements, DOA may have fruit re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense.

DOA will undertake an import inspection in accordance with their procedures. If live pests are found, the consignment may be re-exported, destroyed or treated (if available) at the exporter’s expense.

DOA may temporarily suspend imports from the identified pathway until a risk assessment of the intercepted pest is completed.

Documents

Work Plan Australian apple and pear exports to Thailand · 2018-01-10 · Growers, packhouses, load out facilities and exporters are responsible for ensuring that consignments are