7 May 2019
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that applications for accreditation of farms, packhouses and treatment facilities for the export of strawberries to Thailand 2019 are now open.
Summary of changes and key points
- Strawberries produced and prepared in Tasmania and Western Australia are eligible to apply for accreditation under the protocol agreement.
- Farm, packhouse and treatment facility managers must complete the below application form and submit the completed form to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Audit Services Group by 5pm AEDT, 21 May 2019. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- Crop monitors must complete the generic crop monitor course online through the Tocal College online eLearning hub by 28 May 2019 to be eligible to conduct crop monitoring for strawberries to Thailand.
- Treatment facilities accredited in 2018 are not required to re-apply.
- The department may conduct audits prior to confirming accreditation.
- Strawberries sourced from Western Australia must be subjected to mandatory methyl bromide fumigation at an accredited treatment facility prior to export.
- For specific market requirements, refer to the protocol on the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICoR) plants website. Protocols can be found in the Documents section of MICoR. To access these documents, you must be a registered MICoR Plants user.
- To register for MICoR, go to the registration webpage, complete all fields and then click ‘Submit’. You will be provided with your login details by email.
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Background
The protocol for exporting strawberries to Thailand mandates that farms, packhouses and treatment facilities are accredited with the department.
The protocol requires that strawberries must be produced in Australia and sourced from a Thailand approved production area. Currently, only strawberries produced and packed in Tasmania and Western Australia are permitted to be exported to Thailand under the protocol.
Accredited property responsibilities
Treatment facilities must be registered establishments.
Growers may divide their orchard into blocks. Each block must be clearly identified on the application form and on the orchard map by its physical address or geographic co-ordinates.
Farms and packhouses applying for accreditation will be audited by the department to ensure compliance with the relevant protocols and/or work plans and departmental requirements. Some accredited properties may be audited by the importing country authority.
Obligations for accredited properties, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards can be found on the can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual (PEOM).
Packhouses must provide evidence of adherence to one of following industry food safety accredited schemes that comply with Thailand’s ‘good practices’ requirements for packhouses:
- BRC Global Standards for Food Safety
- Freshcare Food Safety and Quality Code of Practice – Edition 4
- SQF Food Safety Code for Primary Production – Edition 8
- GLOBAL G.A.P.
The department will contact applicants to provide notification of audit dates. The following records must be supplied at the time of audit, where applicable:
List of required records
Farm
- Management program for pest and disease control
- Spray diary
- Crop monitoring records
- Traceability system
- Staff training
Packhouse
- Traceability system including receivals and load out of product
- Management program for pest control, waste removal and cleaning
- Staff training
Crop monitor training
Only individuals who have completed the online crop monitor training and passed the assessment are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
- Online generic crop monitor training is now open via Tocal College online eLearning hub
- Crop monitors require to complete the assessment by 28 May 2019
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations