06 May 2025
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise the apple industry and authorised officers (AOs) of key changes to the protocol for export of apples from Tasmania to China for the remainder of the 2025 season.
Summary of changes and key points
- The protocol has been expanded to allow for apple exports from all states and territories in Australia, and a change of title to “apples from Australia”.
- Inclusion of a new pest that must be monitored for during in-field crop monitoring.
- Introduction of a requirement to cut 60 fruits as part of the phytosanitary inspection.
- Addition of a new field on the phytosanitary certificate for the grower/farm block accredited property number and treatment facility details when consignment is treated onshore.
NOTE: These changes are in effect and need to be complied with for the remainder of the current 2025 season and future seasons. This IAN does not apply to growers from any state other than Tasmania.
Background
- The ‘China – Apples protocol - superseded as of 24 April 2025’ set out the requirements for export of apples from Tasmania to China and were in effect until 24 April 2025.
- The ‘China – Apples protocol - Effective as of 24 April 2025’ (the ‘current protocol’) came into effect on 24 April 2025. Any consignments exported after 24 April 2025 must comply with the current protocol.
Note: No existing conditions were removed from the protocol, and no other significant changes were made to the protocol that impact apples grown in Tasmania for the current 2025 season.
- The current protocol is available in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must register as a Micor Plants user, complete all fields and click ‘Submit’. You will be provided with your login details by email.
Note: A revised workplan will be published prior to the new season’s application IAN being published.
Exporters responsibilities
Ensure you comply with all the requirements for phytosanitary certificates as per Micor. The updated requirements are as follows:
- packhouse number must be noted in ‘shipping marks’ field
- grower/block numbers must be noted in the ‘additional product description’ field
- if the fruit is treated (for example, cold treatment) this must be noted in the ‘facility details’ field
- ensuring enough fruit is supplied to conduct the 60-piece fruit cut at the time of inspection.
Authorised officers responsibilities
Ensure you comply with the following requirements:
- record all grower and packhouse numbers on the inspection record
- conduct a 60-piece cut fruit inspection for evidence of codling moth.
- refer to the Plant Export Operations Manual for best practice on recording information on the inspection record and conducting fruit cuts.
Crop monitor, grower and packhouse responsibilities
- Crop monitors, growers and packhouses need to familiarise themselves with the current protocol to ensure that apples exported to China from Tasmania comply with the updated requirements.
- If orchards are still harvesting, crop monitors should begin monitoring for the new pest.
- Growers and packers should familiarise themselves with the updated requirements on Micor.
- Registered growers and packers with be provided a fact sheet to assist with monitoring for the new pest ahead of the formal training program, due to be updated later this year.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch