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Plant Export Operations

Work Plan

Australian Citrus Exports to the United States of America

Version Number 11.1 Owner Assistant Secretary, Plant Export Operations Contact Director, Horticulture Exports Program [email protected] Availability Internal and External Trim File Number 2014/11663E Date Published September 2017

ISSUE/ REV DATE REVISION DESCRIPTION BY

8 Apr 2015 Revised content and format EP, LH, AL, PI

9 July 2015 Revised content AG, AL

10 Nov 2015 Introduction of External Authorised Officers into Protocol Markets

AG/AL

11 Jun 2016 Clarity to probe placement descriptions to accommodate different packaging and pallet arrangements

AL

11.1 Sep 2017 Amended requirements for In-transit cold treatment for Queensland fruit fly for Grapefruit and Tangelos as per the updated USDA Treatment Manual.

TW

mailto:[email protected]

Australian Citrus exports to the United States of America work plan

Date Published Current Version Number Document Owner Page Number

SEP 2017 11. 1 Plant Export Operations 2 of 23




CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

1. SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................... 5

1.1 REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 EXPORT APPROVAL..................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 PRODUCTION AREAS ................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 IMPORT PERMIT ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.5 PERMITTED CITRUS VARIETIES ....................................................................................................................................... 6 1.6 QUARANTINE PESTS AND DISEASES ................................................................................................................................ 6 1.7 APPROVED HORTICULTURE DISTRICTS ............................................................................................................................ 6 1.8 MOVEMENT OF FRUIT ................................................................................................................................................ 8 1.9 OUTBREAK AND SUSPENSION CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................... 8

2. GROWER RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................................................................................................... 9

2.1 GROWER REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................................ 9

3. PACKHOUSE RESPONSIBILITIES ..............................................................................................................................10

3.1 REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENTS AND EXPORT APPROVAL .................................................................................................... 10 3.2 DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.3 PACKHOUSE HYGIENE AND INSPECTION ........................................................................................................................ 10 3.4 PACKAGING AND LABELLING REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................. 11

4. IN-TRANSIT COLD TREATMENT (ITCT) ....................................................................................................................12

4.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 PRE-COOLING ......................................................................................................................................................... 13 4.3 COLD TREATMENT SCHEDULES .................................................................................................................................... 13 4.4 DOCUMENTATION ................................................................................................................................................... 14 4.5 REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPERATURE RECORDERS ............................................................................................................ 14 4.6 CALIBRATION OF TEMPERATURE SENSORS ..................................................................................................................... 15 4.7 PLACEMENT OF TEMPERATURE SENSORS ...................................................................................................................... 15 4.8 MOVEMENT AND SECURITY OF FRUIT ........................................................................................................................... 16

5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT ...............................................................................................................18

5.1 AUDIT ................................................................................................................................................................... 18 5.2 COLD TREATMENT SUPERVISION ................................................................................................................................. 18 5.3 EXPORT INSPECTION ................................................................................................................................................. 18 5.4 EXPORT CERTIFICATION ............................................................................................................................................. 20

ATTACHMENT 1. LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH INSPECTION RECORD .........................................................................22

ATTACHMENT 2. CONTROLS FOR SNAILS ...................................................................................................................23




INTRODUCTION

This work plan details the requirements for the export of Australian citrus fresh fruit from approved horticulture districts to the United States of America (USA). The work plan incorporates the formal requirements as agreed between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department). The presence of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), brown citrus rust mite, light brown apple moth (LBAM), various snails and other pests and diseases in Australia are of major concern to the USDA authorities and the following procedures must be adhered to in order to ensure that Australian citrus meet the requirements for export to the USA. Citrus fruit for export to the USA must be sourced from approved horticulture districts only. There are two systems that are approved by the USDA to export Australian citrus fruit:

1. Fruit fly pest free area (PFA)—pre-shipment inspection by an authorised officer approved by the department, commodity security arrangements, and USDA inspection on arrival in the USA; 2. In-transit cold treatment (ITCT) from approved horticultural districts only―export inspection by an authorised officer approved by the department, and calibration of fruit pulp temperature sensors and certification of the commencement of in-transit cold treatment in USDA-approved containers by an authorised officer.

The work plan is to be used by authorised officers approved by the department and industry participants in the export of citrus to the USA. Operational requirements may be subject to change.




1. SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS

All costs associated with the delivery of this work plan (i.e. departmental inspections and verification) are to be met by industry.

The department will verify that all requirements specified in the work plan are being complied with and will stipulate corrective actions to be carried out if non-conformities are identified. All fruit presented for export must meet the requirements of the Export Control Act 1982, subordinate legislation (including the Export Control (Plant and Plant Products) Order 2011) and the USA import conditions.

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

it is the final establishment inside the pest free area (PFA), and thereafter

export inspections are performed, or containers are loaded.

Responsibilities of growers and packhouses are covered in s.2 and s.3 respectively.

1.2 Export approval Packhouses must apply to be export-approved by the department through the Citrus Australia Limited (CAL) online registration system.

1.3 Production areas

Fruit can only be exported to the USA from the following approved horticulture districts (refer to s.2):

the Riverland (PFA) region of South Australia (including the Parish of Olney in Victoria)

the Riverina region of New South Wales

the Sunraysia region of New South Wales and Victoria.

Citrus exports from other regions are not permitted.

1.4 Import permit Import permits are required to export citrus fruits to the USA and must be presented to the authorised officer approved by the department at the time of export inspection.




1.5 Permitted citrus varieties For citrus exports to the USA from a fruit fly PFA in an approved horticulture district, the following varieties are approved for export (Table 1). For exports from other areas within approved horticulture districts, only restricted citrus types (marked *) are permitted to be exported and must undergo ITCT. Table 1. Permitted citrus varieties for export to the USA from Australia

Common name Scientific name Orange* Citrus sinensis Lemon* Citrus limon Grapefruit* Citrus paradisi Tangelo* Citrus paradisi x Citrus reticulata, Citrus x tangelo Tangor* Citrus nobilis, Citrus reticulata x Citrus sinensis Tangerine/Mandarin/Clementine* Citrus reticulata cv Lime † Citrus aurantiifolia, Citrus latifolia

† Permitted from fruit fly PFA only – no ITCT pathway available

1.6 Quarantine pests and diseases The following are major quarantine pests and diseases of concern for the USA (Table 2). Table 2. Major quarantine pests and diseases of concern for citrus exports to the USA

If either citrus black spot or citrus scab are detected, the USDA will cease the importation program immediately. The complete pest list is available from the USDA website: www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/downloads/RegulatedPestList.pdf

1.7 Approved horticulture districts Fruit can only be exported to the USA from approved horticulture districts. Fruit grown outside of the approved horticulture districts must not be exported to the USA under any circumstances.

Common name Scientific name Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata Light brown apple moth (LBAM) Epiphyas postvittana Brown citrus rust mite Tegolophus australis Small brown snail Microxeromagna vestita Common white snail Cernuella virgata Pointed snail Cochlicella acuta Citrus black spot Guignardia citricarpa Citrus scab Sphaceloma fawcetti var. scabiosa All species of fruit flies of economic importance

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/downloads/RegulatedPestList.pdf




1.7.1 Non-fruit fly pest free areas (non-PFAs) Only the following approved horticulture districts are permitted to export citrus to the USA under the condition that the consignments undergo ITCT:

1) Sunraysia (Sunraysia district of Victoria and New South Wales) (i) State of Victoria

(a) Shires of Mildura, Swan Hill, Walkool and Kerang (b) Cities of Mildura and Swan Hill (c) Borough of Kerang

(ii) State of New South Wales

(a) Shires of Wentworth and Balranald

2) Riverina (Riverina district of New South Wales)

(a) Shires of Carrathool and the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, which is within the administrative boundaries of the City of Griffith

(b) Shires of Leeton, Narrandera and Murrumbidgee

1.7.2 Fruit fly pest free areas (PFAs)

The following approved horticulture district is approved by the USA as being free of Mediterranean fruit fly and Queensland fruit fly.

1) Riverland (Riverland district of South Australia), defined as the following areas: (i) State of South Australia:

(a) the County of Hamley

(b) the following geographic sub-divisions (called hundreds):

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

(ii) State of Victoria: (a) the Parish of Olney within the Shire of Mildura




1.8 Movement of fruit Packhouses/exporters have a responsibility to ensure that the movement of fruit complies with USDA and departmental requirements (see s.4.8). Transporting individual packages outside of an approved horticulture district for subsequent treatment and export is permitted if the consignment is secured against fruit fly and issued with a transfer certificate (s.4.8.1) in the approved horticulture district.

1.9 Outbreak and suspension criteria An outbreak will be declared and PFA certification will be suspended for exports to the USA when:

3 or more male Mediterranean fruit flies are trapped within a 1 km radius within 14 days; or

5 or more male Queensland fruit flies are trapped within a 1 km radius within 14 days; or

1 gravid female (either species) is trapped; or

1 larva (either species) is found in locally grown fruit.

In the case of fruit fly detections and/or outbreak, the relevant State Department will manage control and/or eradication actions. 1.9.1 Suspension zones The USDA has approved a 15 km radius suspension zone around the discovery point for a period of three generations after the last detection. Should there be a situation where two outbreak sites are found that are more than 1 km apart, a 30 km radius outbreak zone will be applied. Fruit from the suspension area may still be exported but must undergo ITCT in accordance with this work plan and the USDA Treatment Manual. 1.9.2 USDA reporting requirements The department will provide the USDA with notifications concerning fruit fly detections and/or outbreaks where appropriate.

1.9.3 Reinstatement of fruit fly PFAs When no prohibited fruit flies have been detected during the three generation suspension period, reinstatement of the PFA will be negotiated between the USDA and the department.




2. GROWER RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Grower requirements Growers intending to supply citrus for export to the USA must be listed with a USA export-approved packhouse in an approved horticultural district. Growers/orchards may be listed with multiple packhouses within an approved horticulture district. Growers supplying packhouses are required to monitor and control quarantine pests listed in s.1.6.

Growers will monitor their citrus blocks/properties for LBAM during the growing season. Each grower will maintain records of LBAM monitoring and any corrective action undertaken including chemicals used and the concentration rates, dates of application and blocks covered. Growers are required to advise their packhouse(s) if they are located within a fruit fly outbreak area. A grower will be suspended if one or more live eggs/larvae of LBAM are detected during fruit inspection. A suspended grower may consider the following options before they can export again to the USA. These are:

A corrective action spray program targeting LBAM implemented by the grower, with application method and rates documented and the records retained for audit. Sprays must be registered for the purpose and applied according to the label. After completion of the corrective action spray program, and expiration of the withholding period nominated on the label of spray used, a grower can re-commence harvest and delivery. If any further detections of LBAM are made by the packhouse the nominated block will be suspended for the balance of the season.

Alternatively, the grower makes arrangements to have the fruit packed by a packhouse

that has post-harvest processing systems in place (for example, post harvest oil treatment). The department will not specify treatments but will audit treatments applied by packhouses.




3. PACKHOUSE RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Registered establishments and export approval Packhouses need to be registered establishments if they intend to have goods inspected, load containers or if they are located within a PFA (refer to s.1.1). Packhouses must apply to be export-approved by the department through the Citrus Australia Limited (CAL) online registration system.

3.2 Documentation

a) Packhouses are required to maintain an up-to-date list of growers (including suspended growers) that supply fruit for export to the USA and present this when requested to an authorised officer approved by the department.

b) Packhouses must maintain details of their documented system of traceability for fruit supplied by the grower(s); through the packhouse to final dispatch.

c) Packhouses are required to maintain up-to-date LBAM inspection records (refer to

Attachment 1 for an example template and post harvest oil treatment documentation).

3.3 Packhouse hygiene and inspection Packhouses are required to address the risks with the requirements of LBAM and must report all recorded detections of LBAM to the Horticulture Exports Program (HEP) ACT ([email protected]). Packhouses must either have documented receival inspections, or in-line inspections (or both) specifically targeting LBAM before produce reaches the end of the grading process, and/or use an effective post harvest treatment (e.g. oil treatment registered for post-harvest disinfestation of LBAM). Packhouses electing to use a post harvest treatment (e.g. oil treatment as per label rate), must document the use of the treatment including method and rates of application, irrespective of whether or not the use of treatment is continuous or targeted. Documentation must be retained for audit. Non-compliance will result in suspension of export to the USA until corrective actions are in place and a follow-up audit to ensure compliance is completed. Packhouses will have their systems audited at least once within the first four weeks of each season to ensure the inspection procedures including LBAM inspection records and procedures are in accordance with these guidelines. Packhouses are required to conform to the conditions in Attachment 2, Controls for Snails. Hygiene management is part of the standard departmental registration requirements listed in the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Order 2011. This may include evidence of pest





and rodent control, waste removal, quality assurance staff checks, cleaner contract documentation and regular cleaning.

3.4 Packaging and labelling requirements Packaging must be new and clean; or if designed for multiple use and previously used, must have been cleaned and re-conditioned to the satisfaction of an authorised officer approved by the department. Packing must be completed in a USA export-approved packhouse within the approved horticulture districts. Packages with vents or openings are permitted but must conform to the conditions specified in s.4.8. All cartons must be marked with a standard trade description in accordance with the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Order 2011, and include the packhouse registration number, the type and amount of fruit the carton contains, and enable traceability to the production area and the grower. Refer to MICoR for additional declaration requirements.




4. IN-TRANSIT COLD TREATMENT (ITCT)

Citrus exports to the USA are permitted under the ITCT pathway. Exports via the onshore cold treatment pathway are not permitted.

4.1 General requirements These requirements must be read in conjunction with the USDA Treatment Manual. a) Cold treatment is mandatory for all citrus produced in a non-PFA of an approved horticulture district. b) Cold treatment must be conducted in-transit (ITCT pathway). c) An authorised officer must be approved by the department and have successfully completed USDA training to supervise container loading and initiation of cold treatment. However, they are not responsible for operating or setting up cold treatment recording systems. d) The container must be USDA-approved and inspected by an authorised officer before loading to ensure pest freedom and that any vents are covered to prevent the entry of pests. e) Temperature recording equipment must meet the requirements described in the USDA Treatment Manual. f) Sensors must be calibrated prior to treatment and maintain a precision of ± 0.1°C during this period. g) Temperature data must be recorded to 0.1°C units. h) Recording units must be capable of storing data: identifying each temperature sensor; the time and temperature; the identification number of the recording unit(s) and the container number. These data must be able to be downloaded and viewed in printed form. i) Before the start of cold treatment, exporters must nominate the proposed cold treatment schedule to the authorised officer. j) ITCT must be started in Australia and completed before arrival in the USA. k) Only the same species of fruit in the same type of package may be treated together in a container; no mixture of fruits in containers may be treated. l) A numbered seal must be placed on the doors of the loaded container and may be removed only at the port of destination by an official authorised by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).




4.2 Pre-cooling Fruit must be pre-cooled to/below the nominated treatment temperature before the start of treatment. An authorised officer will confirm preliminary cooling by testing randomly selected fruit. The pre-cooling process cannot be conducted in the ITCT conveyance unless authorised by the Executive Director of USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Plant Health Programs.

4.3 Cold treatment schedules It is the exporter’s responsibility to ensure that the fruit is held in self refrigerated (integral) USDA approved ships/containers at the temperature schedules listed below. The fruit must be held in USDA approved ships/containers at core temperatures listed below (Tables 3-8). Containers that fail cold treatment will not be permitted entry into the USA. 4.3.1 Queensland fruit fly For fruit originating from areas that are not free from Queensland fruit fly, the following treatment schedules apply (Tables 3 and 4). Table 3. Cold treatment parameters for Oranges, Tangerines, Clementines, Mandarins, Tangelos and Tangors for Queensland fruit fly (in accordance with USDA Treatment Schedule T107-d-2)

Fruit pulp temperature Exposure period (consecutive days) 0 °C or below 13 0.56 °C or below 14 3.0 °C or below 16

Table 4. Cold treatment parameters for Lemons and Grapefruit for Queensland fruit fly (in accordance with USDA Treatment Schedule T107-d-3)

Fruit pulp temperature Exposure period (consecutive days) 3.0 °C or below 14

4.3.2 Mediterranean fruit fly For fruit originating from areas that are not free from Mediterranean fruit fly, the following treatment schedules apply (Tables 5-8). Table 5. Cold treatment parameters for Oranges and Tangors for Mediterranean fruit fly (in accordance with USDA Treatment Schedule T107-a-2)

Fruit pulp temperature Exposure period (consecutive days) 3.0 °C or below 20




Table 6. Cold treatment parameters for Lemons for Mediterranean fruit fly (in accordance with USDA Treatment Schedule T107-a-3)

Fruit pulp temperature Exposure period (consecutive days) 2.0 °C or below 16 3.0 °C or below 18

Table 7. Cold treatment parameters for Grapefruit, Tangerines and Clementines for Mediterranean fruit fly (in accordance with USDA Treatment Schedule T107-a)

Fruit pulp temperature Exposure period (consecutive days) 1.11 °C or below 14 1.67 °C or below 16 2.22 °C or below 18

Table 8. Cold treatment parameters for Mandarins and Tangelos for Mediterranean fruit fly (in accordance with USDA Treatment Schedule T107-a-1)

Fruit pulp temperature Exposure period (consecutive days) 1.11 °C or below 15 1.67 °C or below 17

If cold treatment has not been completed or fails, the fruits may arrive in the United States only at one of the following locations:

at ports located north of 39° latitude and east of 104° longitude

at ports that have approved cold treatment facilities (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/cold_treatment_facilities.pdf).

4.4 Documentation The following documentation must be recorded and kept on file by the loading facility:

evidence of the establishment registration

a copy of certificate of loading and calibration record for an in-transit cold treatment endorsed by an authorised officer approved by USDA and the department

export documentation for each consignment

receival/dispatch records (including date and time of container loading)

records of hygiene programs (e.g. baiting and cleaning records).

4.5 Requirements for temperature recorders An authorised officer must be approved by the department and have successfully completed USDA training to calibrate and supervise placement of temperature sensors.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/cold_treatment_facilities.pdf

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/cold_treatment_facilities.pdf




Temperature recorders must be compliant with the USDA APHIS requirements including password protection, tamperproof capability and the ability to record the date, time, sensor number, and temperature during all calibrations and actual treatments. The following conditions must be followed:

A minimum of three pulp sensors are required.

Temperatures must be recorded at intervals no longer than 1 hour apart.

Fruit pulp temperatures must be maintained at the temperature specified in the treatment schedule with no more than 0.39 °C (0.7 °F) variation in temperature between two consecutive hourly readings.

The time required to complete the treatment begins when all temperature sensors reach the prescribed treatment schedule temperature.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in treatment failure.

4.6 Calibration of temperature sensors Refer to the USDA Treatment Manual. Three calibration readings from each of the three fruit pulp temperature sensors must be entered onto the calibration record.

4.7 Placement of temperature sensors All fruit pulp temperature sensors are to be placed under supervision of an authorised officer that has completed the prerequisite USDA training. The consignment cannot be loaded and/or the container cannot be closed and sealed if the fruit pulp temperatures do not meet the temperature requirements in s.5.3. All sensors should be placed as far into a box of fruit as possible:

1st sensor (labelled USDA1): 1st pallet row, left side, top carton nearest centre.

2nd sensor (labelled USDA2): Slightly right of the centre of the container, halfway between the top and bottom of the stack. This will usually be the 6th pallet row, right side, 4th carton down and 3rd carton across.

3rd sensor (labelled USDA3): Second last pallet row, left side, halfway between the top and bottom of the stack. This will usually be the 9th pallet row, left side, 4th carton down and 3rd carton across.

A piece of cardboard must be placed on the container floor before the last pallet row is loaded on top of the cardboard. A second piece of cardboard must be placed perpendicular to the first piece of cardboard and stapled to the cartons in the last pallet row. Placement of the cardboard between the container doors and the last pallet row aids in maximizing air flow through the pallets.




For transport in bulk vessels, please contact the department directly.

4.8 Movement and security of fruit To ensure the integrity of the pest free areas is not compromised; State Government regulations controlling the movement and security of fruit moving in and out of pest free areas are to be adhered to in addition to specific requirements described in this Work Plan. Fruit to be exported from a PFA must be packed, loaded and sealed in the PFA. Consignments can be transported by Pantech vehicles. The use of tarpaulins or tautliner type transport is not considered to be secure from fruit fly infestation. Fruit that has been successfully treated must be secured at all times to ensure it is not exposed to possible infestation. Containers must be loaded under supervision of an authorised officer approved by the department. Fruit must be loaded within an insect-proof room or using an insect-proof enclosure between the cool room entrance and the container. Any openings within insect-proof buildings/structures or containers must be less than 1.6mm. There are no restrictions for fruit grown in the approved horticulture districts being moved between establishments within the approved horticulture districts before export inspection, except for fruit grown in an area in which a fruit fly outbreak exists. Fruit grown outside the approved horticulture districts must not be exported to the USA under any circumstances. 4.8.1 Transfer certificates

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.

4.8.2 Air freight Air freight is only permitted for fruit from a PFA. Due to the difficulties in maintaining security of Unit Loading Devices (ULDs), cookie sheets or flat pallets, each individual carton must be treated as a “package”. All air freighted cartons must be fruit fly secure before leaving the treatment facility in either:

sealed cartons; or

vented cartons with mesh or gauze with openings ≤1.6mm.




All consignments being shipped by air from the approved horticulture district to the airport must be fully secured against fruit fly. Additional fruit fly security requirements may be required for indirect shipments through other countries. 4.8.3 Sea freight Shipping containers and reefer vessels must be USDA-approved for in-transit cold treatment. Loading of fruit will be undertaken at a registered establishment. An authorised officer approved by the department must supervise loading and placement of the seal on the container. The officer must record the container and seal number. Approved inspectors can perform this function under an approved arrangement in fruit fly pest free areas. Sealed container doors must not be opened until import inspection in the USA. Fruit that is shipped indirectly to the USA through other countries may require additional phytosanitary security measures depending on the trans-shipment arrangements—in these instances refer to the department.




5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

5.1 Audit The department will carry out routine audits to ensure compliance with the work plan. If the program is suspended by the USDA because of intercepting a live pest of quarantine concern, or any irregularity, the USDA may perform an audit and ongoing monitoring of procedures in Australia before exports are resumed. The full cost of any USDA audit will be borne by the Australian industry. All packhouses are subject to audit to ensure effective trace-back to growers.

5.2 Cold treatment supervision The following aspects of ITCT must be supervised by an authorised officer approved by the department who has successfully completed the prerequisite USDA training:

container inspection to ensure cleanliness, freedom from pests (especially snails) and the integrity of the container

calibration of fruit pulp temperature sensors

placement of fruit pulp temperature sensors

verification of loading and security

calibration records

recalibration and correction of the data download if a correction factor is applied.

5.3 Export inspection

All consignments are subject to standard completed consignment or lot inspection or in-line 600 unit random sample phytosanitary inspection before export. Inspection lots must be nominated by the exporter or agent before the commencement of the phytosanitary inspection. This inspection is carried out by an authorised officer approved by the department or an approved inspector. Where cold treatment is required, the cold treatment loading must be supervised by an authorised officer approved by the department. A rejection at any time during in-line inspection results in the entire lot being rejected for export the USA. Snail monitoring records will be checked by an authorised officer approved by the department at the beginning of the season. Packhouse LBAM monitoring and/or post harvest disinfestations records must be sighted by an authorised officer approved by the department or an approved inspector before the commencement of each phytosanitary inspection. Included in the inspection will be the following:




From the sample (600 unit), 10 per cent of calyces will be removed and each fruit will be examined for egg masses and larvae.

From the sample (600 unit), the navel ends of each fruit will be inspected. Five fruits will be selected and cuts into the navel will be made to inspect further. Very small snails and other pests can hide within the navel.

Particular attention will be paid to pest entry holes, webbing, dark matter, frass or furrowing that may indicate the presence of light brown apple moth or other pests.

All fruit that have soft spots or decay will be examined and cut as this may indicate the presence of fruit fly or other internal feeders.

Sampling and inspection for LBAM must be conducted separately from any other quality or quarantine related inspection function being undertaken in the packing shed.

Inspection findings must be recorded on approved phytosanitary inspection records. 5.3.1 Rejection criteria

Detection of fruit flies Should any stages of Queensland fruit fly or Mediterranean fruit fly be found during a phytosanitary inspection of fruit from a PFA, the authorised officer or approved inspector must notify senior staff in the region and HEP, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources ([email protected]) immediately and inform the relevant State Department of Agriculture. If any stage of Queensland fruit fly or Mediterranean fruit fly is detected at export inspection in a PFA, the department will suspend area freedom certification (for the USA and all other markets) until the cause of the detection can be determined. If an intercepted pest is believed to be a fruit fly, the inspection must stop immediately and the consignment must be secured and isolated from all other fruit. The consignment must be secured in a manner agreed by the department and the relevant State authorities. Should any stages of Queensland fruit fly or Mediterranean fruit fly be found during USDA import inspections, area freedom certification will be suspended for all districts of Australia until a departmental audit determines the cause of the fruit fly detection and appropriate corrective action is determined and undertaken. Should any stages of a fruit fly species other than Queensland fruit fly or Mediterranean fruit fly be detected and found to cause an outbreak, the period of suspension will be negotiated between the department and the USDA. Detection of other quarantine pests If a live quarantine pest (e.g. LBAM) is found during inspection, the contents of that consignment as presented will be rejected.





If the USDA detects live LBAM during on-arrival plant protection and quarantine inspections, they will advise the department and the importer of any non-compliant grower/s shipments within 48 hours of initial receipt of the information. The information will detail the vessel name, phytosanitary certificate number and the lot number.

USDA will isolate the phytosanitary certificate numbers and pallet card numbers in the non-compliant shipment and subject them to mandatory fumigation before release. The rejection will be recorded on an approved form. 5.3.2 Reconditioning Reconditioning of rejected consignments (except when fruit fly is detected) may be undertaken. No reconditioning is permitted for consignments where live Mediterranean or Queensland fruit flies are found. Reconditioning for other pests may be considered. The type of reconditioning is at the exporter’s discretion. However, the reconditioning method chosen must suitably address the quarantine risk and biology of the pest. Reconditioned consignments intended for export to the USA must be represented for phytosanitary inspection in accordance with the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Order 2011. Details of consignments being represented must be detailed in writing and include corrective measures taken to ensure they meet export requirements.

5.4 Export certification All consignments require a phytosanitary certificate for export to the USA. Phytosanitary certificates are required to be completed in accordance with procedures set out in the Phytosanitary Certificate Completion Work Instruction. For sea freight shipments, both the container and seal numbers must be correctly recorded on the phytosanitary certificate. Packhouses must be able to verify the accuracy of this information. The registered packhouse number/s must be entered into the ‘shipping marks’ section of the EXDOC Request For Permit (RFP) and in the example format of: PACKHOUSE NO: XXXX. The original phytosanitary certificate must be presented to the USDA on arrival of the consignment in the USA. Additional declarations may be found on the MICoR database. The National Documentation Hub is required to complete the in-transit cold treatment 556 report available on the USDA website. The department is required to send copies of all documents to the clearance official at the port of arrival and to USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T-CPHST-AQI ([email protected]). The following forms are part of the 556 report:





“Calibration of Temperature Probes”

“Instructions to Captain”

“Location of Temperature Sensors”.




ATTACHMENT 1. LIGHT BROWN APPLE MOTH INSPECTION RECORD

Date Grower Variety/

Type

Bin I.D. or

Lot I.D.

Time/

Shift

Number of

Fruit

Sampled

Number

of Calyx

Removed

Number

of

LBAM

Found

Initials

Completed by:...................................................................................................................................

Name Signature

NOTES:

I. This is a sample containing the minimum essential information. The information above may

be incorporated into existing LBAM inspection company documents used in Approved

Arrangements or as part of normal operating systems documentation.

II. The HEP ([email protected]) must be advised of details

when LBAM is detected.





ATTACHMENT 2. CONTROLS FOR SNAILS

The presence of snails on cargo arriving in the USA has resulted in treatments being ordered by quarantine authorities. Snails have been previously detected on fruit, pallets and on shipping containers. Snails of major concern to USA are the small brown snail Microxeromagna vestita (syn. Microxeromagna arrouxi and Microxeromagna armillata), the common white snail Cernuella virgata and the pointed snail Cochlicella acuta. Some risk areas are listed below to assist industries to manage snail control. Orchards

Trees with low skirts allow snails to climb into the crop. Rubbish, weedy or cover crop growth may harbour snails within. Areas adjacent to the crop affected by rubbish, weedy or cover crop growth. Field bins or picking bags in contact with the ground or close to snail populations. Trees that have not been exposed to copper sprays for some time. Insufficient inspection of orchard and equipment for evidence of snail populations. Wet periods that encourage snail movement upwards into trees.

Packhouses

Lack of snail controls in and around the establishment e.g. snail baiting around the outside of the packhouse.

Lack of checking fruit and bins for snails on arrival. Rubbish, vegetative growth or stored items that may harbour snails within or adjacent

to the packhouse. Bin and carton storage may harbour snails. Shipping containers not thoroughly checked for snails inside and out. Trucks not thoroughly checked for snails. Shipping containers located in areas near rubbish, vegetative growth or stored items

that may harbour snails. Juvenile snails in navel of fruits could be missed. Presence of snails in fruit not reported to management. Shipping pallets harbouring snails.

Transport and Shipping

Shipping containers not thoroughly checked for snails inside and out. Trucks not thoroughly checked for snails. Shipping containers located in areas near rubbish, vegetative growth or stored items

that may harbour snails. Lack of suitable barriers between snail populations and export consignments. Shipping pallets harbouring snails. Adjacent shipping containers harbouring snails that may move to citrus containers. Ships' holds harbouring snails.

Snails will generally be on the move during wet conditions, especially after a dry period. Some species will climb upwards to escape hot surfaces and this also presents a risk.

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