06 February 2025
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses to export Hass avocados to Japan, Thailand, and India.
Summary of changes and key points
- Applications are now open for farms and packhouses intending to export Hass avocados to Japan, Thailand and India for the 2025 season.
- Avocado farm and packhouse managers wanting to export to Japan, Thailand and India should complete their application forms online through the Australian avocado export registration system by 5pm AEST, Friday 28 February 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- All information in the application (for example, ABN numbers, contact details, accredited property maps and addresses) must be complete and correct or the application may not be accepted.
- Farms and packhouses will be subject to audits by the department. New applications will be audited pre-season prior to their accreditation being confirmed.
- Applicants will be advised in advance of their scheduled audit date and time.
- Accredited properties may be subject to unannounced audit by the department during the season consistent with accredited property audit guidelines.
- Accredited farms and packhouses may be subject to verification visits by the Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Thailand Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the Indian Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage; Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DPPQS).
- Crop monitors must complete the online core Crop Monitoring module through Learnhub by Friday 28 February 2025 to be eligible to conduct crop monitoring.
- Accredited property packhouses for avocados (Western Australia only) can now apply for an additional export function to operate under the Packhouse grower supplier model (PGSM).
- Applications for the PGSM must be submitted to the Audit and Assurance Branch using the Application for accreditation under the packhouse grower supplier model by 5pm AEST, Friday 28 February 2025.
Note: This is in addition to the accredited property packhouse application through the Australian avocado export registration system.
Specific market requirements
- Only fresh avocado (Persea americana) fruit of the Hass cultivar are permitted to be exported to Japan, Thailand and India.
- Thailand, Japan and India - farms and packhouses from Western Australia (WA) are permitted to export Hass avocado to these markets.
- India - farms and packhouses from all states are permitted to export Hass avocado to this market.
- MAFF, DOA and DPPQS protocol conditions apply to fresh Hass avocado sourced from officially recognised areas free from Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) in Western Australia and Riverland (South Australia).
- Japan and Thailand recognise Tasmania to be free from both Qfly and Mediterranean fruit fly. Exports of fresh Hass avocado sourced from Tasmania are not subject to the Japan protocol requirements but must satisfy fruit fly pest free area (PFA) requirements under the Thailand protocol.
Further details on specific market requirements (including area freedom) are available in the relevant work plans and protocols in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must be a registered Micor Plant user.
To register for Micor, go to the registration webpage, complete all fields and then click ‘Submit’. You will be provided with your login details by email.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce.
Farms and packhouses intending to export Hass avocado to Japan, Thailand and India must be accredited by the department and recognised by these markets, prior to export.
Accredited property responsibilities – farms and packhouses
- Farms and packhouses must apply for accreditation annually (unless otherwise advised).
- The department can only accredit an entity for export if all protocol requirements are met.
- Requirements for accredited properties including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards, can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
- Farms may divide their orchard into blocks, which must be a contiguous unit and not be separated by structures such as a building, public road, or body of water. Each block must be clearly identified on the application form and on the farm map by its physical address or geographic co-ordinates.
- Applicants must be available for audits, to ensure compliance with the relevant work plans and protocols.
- Existing accredited properties will be subject to an audit pre- or in-season.
- All new applicants must be available for pre-season audits to ensure compliance with the protocol and departmental requirements.
- Debt checks apply to 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 a payment arrangement. If the debt is not paid, the accredited property application will be refused.
- Applicants must be available on site during the audit and have the below records available, where applicable.
List of required records
Farm
Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) that are documented and include the following:
- traceability system
- harvest practices (hard mature for India)
- hygiene
- management program for pests and diseases as specified by MAFF, DOA and DPPQS in the protocol.
Packhouse
Standard operation procedures (SOPs) that include all processes related to:
- security of product within 24 hours of harvest (for Japan)
- packing and securing of product within 48 hours of harvest (for Thailand)
- receival and load out of avocado fruit
- grading, processing, and storage
- product traceability and segregation
- cleaning and hygiene systems.
Crop monitor responsibilities
- Online crop monitor training for avocados must be completed annually through Learnhub. The training consists of the Core Crop Monitoring module.
- 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. Please select 'other' and type 'avocados' for this commodity.
- Crop monitors must complete the training and pass the assessment by 5pm AEST, Friday 28 February 2025.
- Only crop monitors who have completed the online training and passed the assessment are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
- Crop monitors will be audited for compliance at the relevant accredited property audit.
- Crop monitors must show an understanding of Japan, Thailand or India’s pests of concern and have this reflected in monitoring records.
Packhouse grower supplier model (PGSM)
The Packhouse grower supplier model (PGSM) is a voluntary, alternative assurance model and auditing program for accredited property packhouses and farms.
Application process
- Accredited property packhouses for avocados (Western Australia only) can apply for an additional export function to operate under the packhouse grower supplier model. To be eligible for the model, the packhouse must have been accredited in the previous export season (2024).
- Applications for the packhouse grower supplier model must be submitted to the Audit and Assurance Branch using the Application for accreditation under the packhouse grower supplier model by 5pm AEST, Friday 28 February 2025. All supporting documentation must be provided with the application.
Supporting material
Potential applicants should familiarise themselves with the policy and instructional material available in the Plant Exports Operations Manual.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Horticulture Exports.
If you have any questions regarding the avocado export registration system, please email Avocados Australia’s Export Development Manager.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch