01 December 2025
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise the blueberry industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses, and the registration of treatment facilities to export blueberries to Vietnam for the 2026–27 season.
Summary of changes and key points
- Applications are now open for the accreditation of farms and packhouses to export blueberries to Vietnam for the 2026–27 season.
Note: Applicants that apply now will be able to export to Vietnam through to early 2027 once they are accredited by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department). - Farm and packhouse managers must complete their applications through the Berries Australia registration system. Applications must be complete by 5:00pm (AEDT) Wednesday 7 January 2026.
Note: Late submissions will not be accepted. - Farms and packhouses will be subject to audits by the department. New applicants will be audited pre-season.
- Crop monitors must complete the online module training and assessment through Learnhub by 5:00pm (AEDT) Friday 23 January 2026.
- Treatment facilities must be a registered establishment and approved to treat blueberries for Vietnam. Applications to register for, vary or revoke treatment functions can be submitted through the digital Export Service.
- Authorised Officers who wish to inspect blueberries for export to Vietnam must hold the job function HEP4001:4 Export inspection of horticulture protocol – Berry.
Note: Information on the application, training and assessment process can be found on the department’s website at Authorised Officers - DAFF.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce.
The protocol for exporting blueberries to Vietnam mandates that farms, packhouses and treatment facilities are accredited or registered with the department prior to the export season.
For specific market requirements, refer to the relevant protocol in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must register as a Micor Plants user.
Accredited property responsibilities – farms and packhouses
- Farms and packhouses must apply for accreditation annually.
- Growers may divide their farm into blocks. Each block must be clearly identified on the application form and on the farm map by its physical address or geographic co-ordinates. A block must be a contiguous unit and not be separated by structures such as a building, public road or body of water.
Note: For further information, refer to the Process Instruction: Management of horticulture export accredited properties on the Plant Export Operations Manual. - Debt checks will occur on all accredited property applications. Properties with debt owing to the Commonwealth 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.
- Farms and packhouses must be available for audits by the department, to ensure compliance with the protocol and the department’s requirements.
- Audits will occur either pre-season and/or in-season (during harvest). Any farm or packhouse that was not accredited during the 2025 season will be audited pre-season.
- Accreditation and/or continuation of accreditation will be reliant on audit outcomes.
Note: The department may use a combination of announced and unannounced audits as part of its assurance process. - The department can only accredit an entity for export if all protocol requirements are met.
- Requirements for accredited properties, including management and audit process instructions and performance standards can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Crop monitor responsibilities
- Online crop monitor training for blueberries must be completed annually through Learnhub. The training consists of a core crop monitoring module and a blueberry pests and diseases 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 the training in previous years.
- Crop monitor training will open from Monday 15 December 2025.
- Crop monitors must complete the training and pass the assessment by 5:00pm AEDT Friday 23 January 2026.
- 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.
Treatment facility responsibilities
- Treatment facilities must be a registered establishment and approved for the specific country, commodity and treatment combination for protocol markets.
- Treatment facilities not approved for the countries, commodities and treatments required must complete and submit the form, ‘Add a commodity, product, operation or function’ for their establishment through the digital Export Service and be audited by us. Once approved, facilities do not need to reapply in the future.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding applying for accreditation, please email Berries Australia.
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email Horticulture Exports.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch