10 May 2021
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that accreditation applications for the export of mangoes and lychees to the USA, China, Japan and South Korea for the 2021–22 season are now open.
Key points
- Lychee farm and packhouse managers wanting to export to the USA must download and complete the application forms and forward to the Australian Lychee Growers Association by 23 July 2021:
- Mango farm and packhouse managers wanting to export to USA, China, and South Korea can complete their application forms through the Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) online application system by 23 July 2021. To get a login, contact AMIA directly via email.
Note: For export to Japan, farms and packhouses are not required to be accredited as the protocol only requires treatment facilities and post treatment packhouses to be registered. - Crop monitors must complete the online training and assessment for mangoes or lychees annually through the Tocal College online eLearning hub to be eligible to conduct crop monitoring for these protocol markets.
- Some accredited properties may be audited by, or on behalf of, the importing country authority following the commencement of trade.
- Treatment facilities that are not already a registered establishment, wanting to apply for
- irradiation treatment of mangoes/lychees for export to the USA, or
- vapour heat treatment of mangoes for export to China, South Korea and Japan
- must download and complete the Application for registration as a plant export registered establishment and/or associated operations and functions (EX26d) and forward to the department's Certificate Management.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce.
The protocols for exporting mangoes and lychees to USA, China and South Korea mandate that farms and packhouses are accredited, and that treatment facilities are registered, with us prior to the export season. For Japan, only treatment facilities, and post-treatment packing facilities must be registered.
For specific market requirements, refer to the relevant protocol and/or work plan in the ‘Documents’ section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must be a registered Micor Plant 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.
Accredited property responsibilities – Farms and packhouses
- Growers may divide their farm into blocks. Each block must be clearly identified on the application form and on the farm map.
- Packhouses must submit a separate application for each packhouse facility.
- Farms and packhouses applying for accreditation will be audited by us to ensure compliance with the relevant protocols and/or workplans and departmental requirements.
- Audits may occur pre-season and/or during the season (during harvest). Any farm or packhouse that was not accredited for the 2020–21 season will be audited pre-season.
- Pre-season audits will be conducted the week commencing 23 August 2021. Applicants must be available during this time and have records (electronic or hard copy) available on-site at the time of audit (when applicable).
- In-season audit periods will be determined during the season in consultation with industry.
- Obligations for accredited properties, to assist in preparing for audit, including management guidelines, audit guidelines and performance standards can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
List of required records to present at audit
Farm
- Farm location map
- Management program for pest and disease control
- Spray diary
- Crop monitoring records
- Traceability system
- Staff training
Packhouse
- Traceability system including receivals, load out of product and transfer records
- Product security
- Floor plan and product flow chart
- Staff training
- Management program for pest control, waste removal and cleaning
Crop monitor responsibilities
Only crop monitors who have completed the online training and passed the assessment are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
- Online crop monitor training is now open for mangoes and lychees and will remain open until 30 September 2021.
- Training must be completed before flowering (budburst) when crop monitoring begins.
- The eLearning course content will remain accessible throughout the season for crop monitors to refer to for information.
Treatment facilities responsibilities
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 approved by us for the irradiation treatment of mangoes and lychees to the USA, or the vapour heat treatment of mangoes to China, Korea and Japan, will automatically be included on the approved list for export that we provide to the importing country. To confirm your approved operations refer to your registered establishment’s Certificate of Registration.
Treatment facilities that are currently not approved for the countries, commodities and treatments they would like, must submit an Application for registration as a plant export registered establishment and/or associated operations and functions (EX26d) and be audited and approved by us and the importing country, where required.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding the lychee application process or the AMIA online application system please email:
Australian Lychee Growers Association
PO Box 6120
Mooloolah QLD 4553
Phone: 0417 639 927
Email: ALGAEO
Australian Mango Industry Association
PO Box 376
Brisbane Markets QLD 4106
Phone: 07 3278 3755 or 0457 555 838
Email: AMIA
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, or are unable to submit your application using the AMIA online system please email the Horticulture Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch