Overview
Risk is reduced by limiting the time that the commodity is exposed to the pest.
- Examples of this measure include requiring a commodity to be packed within a certain number of hours after harvest or requiring a sea container to be treated for hitchhiker pests within a limited number of days prior to export.
- Evaluating the efficacy of this measure requires evidence that limiting exposure time helps to reduce the risk as intended, and that the risk increases without this measure.
- Consistently applied commercial practices that limit exposure time to pests may be considered when conducting a pest risk assessment. It may also be proposed as a phytosanitary measure.
- For assurance, commercial practices may be audited by authorised personnel, with oversight from the NPPO or relevant authority of the exporting jurisdiction.
Evidence to support efficacy
Evidence may be required to demonstrate that risk is actually elevated during the period when the measure applies (e.g. that fruit are more vulnerable after being picked relative to while they are on the tree), and that the measures will sufficiently address these risks. Risk will be affected by exposure time, pest abundance and host vulnerability.
Applying the measure
How it is used
This measure often applies to steps where there is a heightened, after harvest or post-production risk of pest exposure leading to infestation. For example, during transport from point of harvest to a pest-exclusionary packing facility, where commodities are stored or processed outside (e.g. timber), or when reinfestation can occur following a kill treatment (e.g. sea containers). It can also be applied before harvest, for example, by limiting the time mature fruit remains on the tree or restricting the age of nursery plants for sale.
Commercial practices that limit the commodity’s exposure time to the pest can be considered during a pest risk assessment if consistently applied. They may also be proposed as a phytosanitary measure to manage risks. For example, a maximum time can be specified for transporting harvested produce to a secure facility, for leaving the doors of a sea container open during cleaning or loading, or to export a sea container following treatment for hitchhiker pests.
Use with other measures
When used to minimise the risk of post-harvest infestation it is often combined with safeguarding measures such as secure transport from harvest to packing facility.
Similar measures
Limiting exposure time to the pest and limit seasonal overlap both restrict the temporal overlap between the pest and commodity. However, limit seasonal overlap is focused on a longer time scale and when the pest is inactive.
Assurance of correct implementation
To provide assurance, production sites or other facilities may be inspected by authorised personnel, with oversight by the NPPO or relevant authority of the exporting jurisdiction, to ensure that they are complying with the requirements of the measure.