18 July 2025
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise industry of the upcoming closure of the 2025 winter window arrangements for the export of cucurbits to New Zealand (NZ) and the accreditation requirements for continuing exports of selected species of cucurbits after 1 September 2025.
Summary of changes and key points
- The winter window pathway for cucurbits to NZ will close on 1 September 2025.
- 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 NZ after 1 September 2025 must follow management options as detailed in the New Zealand Export Plan (NZEP).
- 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
Note: Farm and packhouse accreditation is not required if using:
- the irradiation pathway without the requirement for in-field controls, or,
- the dimethoate dip option for rockmelon. For further information refer to the NZEP.
Background
- Requirements for exporting cucurbits to NZ outside of the winter window pathway can be found in the NZEP.
- The NZEP 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.
- In addition to department accreditation all farms must be accredited as a Pest Free Place of Production (PFPP) for Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus (CGMMV) by the relevant state or territory government.
State and Territory CGMMV PFPP requirements – Farms
- Currently, only Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory have systems approved to manage CGMMV PFPPs. Therefore, only farms in these states or territories can export cucurbit species to NZ.
- Farms are required to provide us with their certificate of accreditation as a PFPP and endorsed property plan at the time of applying to us or during our audit.
Accredited property responsibilities – Farms and packhouses
- Farms and packhouses intending to export outside the winter window pathway (1 September 2025 to 30 April 2026) must apply for accreditation to the Audit and Assurance Branch by 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 1 August 2025, to be an accredited property under the NZEP.
- Farms and packhouses must be available for audits at the frequency outlined in the table of section 12 of the NZEP.
Note: We may use a combination of announced and unannounced audits as part of our assurance process. - 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 a payment arrangement. 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.
- Accreditation and/or continuation of accreditation will be reliant on audit outcomes.
- All other requirements in the NZEP must be adhered to.
- 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 15 August 2025.
- 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 in the Export Service platform.
Treatment facilities that are currently approved, but wish to vary any plant operation, or make changes to their documented systems must manage their establishment details in the Export Service platform.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
Haddon Bell
A/g Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch