18 July 2024
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise stakeholders of the upcoming closure of the 2024 winter window arrangements for the export of cucurbits to New Zealand and the registration and accreditation requirements for continuing exports of cucurbits after 1 September 2024.
Summary of changes and key points
- The winter window pathway for cucurbits to New Zealand will close on 1 September 2024.
- Applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses intending to export certain fresh cucurbits to New Zealand outside of the winter window.
- Exports of cucurbits arriving in New Zealand after 1 September 2024 must follow management options as detailed in the New Zealand Export Plan (Export Plan).
- Commodity pathways requiring accreditation are:
- Honeydew melons (Cucumis melo): dimethoate dipping and in-field controls
- Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus): methyl bromide fumigation and in-field controls
- Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo): irradiation and in-field controls
Important: With the exception of zucchini, fresh cucurbits exported via the irradiation pathway do not require farm and packhouse accreditation. Farms must be an accredited property for zucchinis to New Zealand for the purposes of maintaining in-field controls for melon thrips unless fumigation is used. Where a packhouse receives product from an accredited farm they must also be an accredited property for that commodity and country.
Background
The New Zealand Export Plan is available in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must be a registered Micor plant user.
All export certification fees and charges applicable to these commodities will be applied as per the department’s charging guidelines.
CGMMV PFPP requirements – Farms
- To trade, farms must be accredited as a Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) Pest Free Place of Production (PFPP) by the relevant state/territory authority.
- Currently, only Victoria (VIC), Queensland (QLD), Western Australia (WA) and Northern Territory (NT) have systems approved to manage CGMMV PFPPs. Therefore, only farms in these states can export fresh cucurbit species to New Zealand.
- Farms located in VIC and WA must provide us with the PFPP certificate issued by the state as evidence for registration.
- Farms located in QLD and NT must provide us with their ‘accredited certifier’ certificate issued by the state/territory as evidence for registration.
- Approval is subject to an assessment against PFPP certification issued by the relevant state department confirming property freedom from CGMMV.
- All farms must also provide us with a copy of their property plan endorsed by the state/territory as part of their application for PFPP for CGMMV.
Accredited property responsibilities – Farms and packhouses
- Farms and packhouses intending to export outside the winter window pathway (1 September 2024 to 30 April 2025) must apply for accreditation to the Audit and Assurance Branch by 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 2 August 2024, to be an accredited property under the Export Plan.
- Farms and packhouses must be available for audits at the frequency outlined in the table of section 12 of the Export Plan.
- Debt checks will now occur on all accredited property applications. Properties with debt owing to the department will be notified and given 10 business days to pay the relevant debt or enter into an arrangement to pay the debt. If the debt is not paid, the accredited property application will be refused.
- In addition, new applicants will be required to pass an audit prior to accreditation.
- All other requirements in the Export Plan must be adhered to.
- For further information please see the Export Plan located in the ‘Documents’ section of Micor.
- Applications and requirements for accredited properties, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards, can be found in the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Note: All information in the application including ABN, contact details, accredited property maps and addresses must be complete and correct, or the application may not be accepted.
Crop monitor responsibilities
- Online crop monitor training and assessment for cucurbits must be completed annually through the Core Crop Monitoring module on Learnhub.
- Crop monitors must register to conduct crop monitor training by completing and submitting the Crop Monitor Training Request Form, including those who have completed training in previous years.
- Crop monitors must complete the training and pass the assessments by Friday 16 August 2024.
- Crop monitors will be audited for compliance at the relevant accredited property audit.
Exporter responsibilities
- Exporters sourcing produce from farms and suppliers to export to NZ must ensure that the place of production is registered with us and approved for export.
- Exporters must provide evidence in the form of a biosecurity certificate from the relevant state government authority, or accredited certifier for QLD or NT, to Assessment Services Exports when requesting authorisation of their phytosanitary certificate.
Treatment facility requirements
Treatment facilities must be a registered establishment and approved for the specific country, commodity and treatment combination for protocol markets.
Treatment facilities that are currently not approved for the countries, commodities and treatments they would like, must submit an Application for registration as a plant export registered establishment and/or associated operations and functions (EX26d) to the Certificate Management Group.
Treatment facilities that are currently approved, but wish to vary any plant operation, or make changes to their documented systems must submit an Application for registration as a plant export registered establishment and/or associated operations and functions (EX26d) and an Application to vary an establishment registration (EX26b) to the Certificate Management Group.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
Russell Cant
Acting Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch