25 March 2025
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to provide clarity on recent amendments to requirements for in transit cold treatment (ITCT) on citrus and table grapes exported to Japan.
Summary of changes and key points
- The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has confirmed recent changes to ITCT requirements are to enable treatment post-arrival in Japan only in exceptional circumstances.
- Current processes have not changed, and shipments must complete ITCT treatment prior to arrival in Japan as per protocol requirements.
- All possible options to treat shipments prior to arrival (such as assessing against a shorter/colder schedule or unloading at an alternate Japanese port) must be exhausted.
- Exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the exporter must exist for completion of ITCT on-arrival to be considered.
- To request consideration for post-arrival treatment completion, the exporter must provide the Horticulture Exports Program with the following information at least 3 days (72 hours) in advance of arrival at port:
- name of the vessel
- port of departure
- port of arrival
- estimated time of arrival at port
- container number and seal number
- request for permit (RFP) number
- proposed wharf/terminal for treatment completion
- intended treatment schedule
- duration of continued treatment required (in days/hours)
- treatment data (in original format, and a text copy)
- explanation from shipping representative on the nature of the ITCT failure
- declaration from shipping representative that container is intact with original door seal intact and container undamaged.
- Requests will not be submitted to MAFF where alternative options exist, or where the exporter has not followed current protocol and workplan requirements to allow sufficient transit time to complete treatment prior to arrival, regardless of container failures or spikes.
- Any requests for consideration of ITCT completion post-arrival in Japan will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and may not be approved by the department or MAFF upon review of circumstances and information.
Background
- On 4 July 2024, MAFF amended Notification No. 70 ‘The Standards stipulated by the MAFF Minister for fresh fruit of plants of the citrus genus and grapes (limited to Vitis vinifera) exported from Australia’ (Japan – Citrus and Grapes – Ministerial standard) to technically allow for completion of ITCT post-arrival in Japan for shipments of citrus and table grapes from Australia.
- On 9 January 2025, MAFF amended Director-General’s Notification No. 11-1360 ‘Plant Quarantine Enforcement Regulations Detailed Rules regarding fresh fruit of Sweet Orange, Lemon, Imperial, Ellendale, Murcott, Minneola, Grapefruit and Grapes produced in Australia’ (Japan - Citrus and grapes – Cold disinfestation protocol) to clarify the procedures of the continuation of the cold treatment.
- Through further consultation with Australia, Japan (MAFF) has clarified that on-arrival completion of ITCT will only be available in exceptional circumstances, and ITCT shipments must continue to meet the current requirements of treatment completion before arrival in Japan.
- The Ministerial standard and Cold disinfestation protocol are available in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must be a registered Micor Plants user.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Horticulture Exports Program.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch