31 October 2019
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to importers (and their customs brokers) of fresh citrus fruits from Spain.
What has changed?
The Department of Agriculture has recently completed a review of cold treatment schedules used to mitigate the biosecurity risks associated with fruit flies in imported horticultural fresh produce. The purpose of the review was to ensure that the cold treatment schedules are supported by the latest available science.
As a result of the review, the department has updated cold treatment schedules for mitigating biosecurity risks associated with Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) in the following citrus fruits from Spain, effective from 15th November 2019:
Calamondin, cumquat, grapefruit, lemon, mandarins, pomelo, sweet and sour oranges, tangelo, tangerines, tangor and limes.
Please refer to the following BICON cases and case alert to find the updated schedules:
- Fresh calamondin and cumquat for human consumption
- Fresh grapefruit or sweetie for human consumption
- Fresh lemons for human consumption
- Fresh limes for human consumption
- Fresh mandarins and tangerines for human consumption
- Fresh oranges for human consumption
- Fresh pomelo, tangelo and tangor for human consumption
Citrus arriving in Australia with phytosanitary certificates dated from 15 November 2019 will be required to meet the updated schedules. Current schedules listed in BICON are valid for citrus arriving in Australia with a phytosanitary certificate dated prior to 15 November 2019.
Further information
For additional information you can email Plant Import Operations Branch at Imports or phone 1800 900 090.