In this update:
· Summerfruit export programmes
· China registration
· Thailand GMP certificate
· Thailand residue testing
· Indonesia prior notification
· Fruit fly OAP
· Weed seed tolerance (Australia)
· ICPR requirements & updated ICPR summary
· Agrichemical compliance
· Australia access update
· Revised documentary requirements for Australia
· Taiwan food cleansers
· Phytosanitary inspector training
Summerfruit Export Programmes
General
Summerfruit has several export programmes. These are MPI official assurance programmes (OAPs) for which registration is required, via the Summerfruit New Zealand Portal. There will be minor updates to OAP documents - ensure you have access to the latest version of the OAP from the MPI website.
Please ensure that you include the contact details for the person (e.g., the orchard manager) that Summerfruit New Zealand, or the IVA, should contact regarding the Official Assurance Programme. For programmes where visits to the orchard are required by the IVA or a foreign official, it is important that the responsible person can be contacted easily and quickly.
Orchard Maps for Japan and Western Australia Programmes
We ask that careful attention is paid to accuracy of maps for the Japan and Western Australia programmes, including the season date e.g., 2025-26, the dimensions of the production sites and placement and number of traps.
There will be no visit by the Japan MAFF Inspector this season. Instead, the verification will be through verification of trap records and pre-grading fruit inspection records. It is very important that all information is accurate and complete.
Failure to include the map requirements as listed in the OAPs (and repeated in the checklist below), requires follow-up by Summerfruit NZ staff and contractors, adding cost to your export programme.
The following checklist has been created from the Japan and Western Australia OAPs and states what is required on the orchard map (refer to the OAPs on the MPI website).
Japan - cherries
- Map labelled for the 2025-26 season
- Property valuation number
- The location of the property, road name and Rapid number or similar
- The dimensions of the production sites within the property
- The location of the production sites within the property
- The boundaries of the production sites within the property
- The area of the production sites within the property
- Production site identification / codes
- Areas that are not part of the production site for the export to Japan (such as areas of replanting or other summerfruit or apples)
- The location, or intended location, of all Codling Moth (CM) pheromone traps (placed internally, not on boundaries)
- Correct number of traps (total no. of ha in the production site (rounded down to whole hectares) plus 1)
- Where several blocks comprise a production site and these are not contiguous (for example they are separated by other species or bare land) the area and dimensions of each of these blocks must be recorded
Western Australia – Summerfruit other than cherries
- Map labelled for the 2025-26 season
- Property valuation number
- The location of the property, road name and Rapid number or similar
- The dimensions of the production sites within the property
- The location of the production sites within the property
- The boundaries of the production sites within the property
- The area of the production sites within the property
- Production site identification / codes
- Species (apricot, peach, plum, nectarine or approved interspecific hybrids) and other crops that are not part of the programme (e.g. cherries or apples)
- Areas that are not part of the production site where multi-leafroller mating disruption pheromones are to be used
- The location, or intended location, of all Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM) pheromone traps (placed internally, not on boundaries)
- Correct number of traps (1 trap / 2ha, min. 3 traps / production site, except where blocks are not contiguous)
- Where several blocks comprise a production site and these are not contiguous (for example they are separated by other species or bare land) the area and dimensions of each of these blocks must be recorded
Cherries to Japan OAP
The main change for the coming season is that there will be no inspector visiting New Zealand. Instead, the programme will be verified using documentation and records. It is essential that registration details (including maps) are accurate and records are up to date, and that trap records and pre-grading inspection records are accurate.
Cherries to Korea OAP
There are no significant changes to the Cherries to Korea OAP for this coming season, but check the MPI website for minor updates and the latest version.
The Korea Inspector is not expected to visit NZ this year.
Summerfruit (South Island) to Western Australia OAP
This OAP applies to all summerfruit other than cherries. Cherries may be exported to Western Australia but are not part of the OAP. There are no significant changes to the Summerfruit (South Island) to Western Australia OAP for next season.
Thailand Industry Management Programme
Compliance with Thailand’s phytosanitary requirements for cherries and apricots is managed through an industry management programme. Refer also to the Thailand ICPR and the MPI Guidance document “Export of Specified Commodities to Thailand”.
USA – Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM)
The industry management programme has been removed. The additional declaration is no longer required as LBAM is no longer a quarantine pest for the USA. Other leafrollers are quarantine pests, and action will be taken if detected. USDA may also not be able to identify immature life stages of leafrollers (including the non-actionable LBAM), and precautionary action may be taken.
China registration
The General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) requires all packhouses and orchards exporting fresh fruit to China to be registered. Summerfruit New Zealand is coordinating registration. See further information here.
Thailand GMP certificate
While not part of the Thailand Industry Management Program, the Thailand Food Drug Administration (FDA) requires 66 food product types, including fresh fruit and vegetables, to be produced according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). New Zealand exporters are required to present an original food quality assurance system certificate, often referred to by Thai importers as a ‘GMP’ certificate. Please refer to guideline ‘F22/22: Thailand GMP requirements for food products’ for additional information on applying for this certificate and contact market.access@mpi.govt.nz if you require further guidance.
Thailand residue testing
Thailand intends to implement a new requirement for all imported fruit and vegetables to be tested for agrichemical residues. There has been little progress with implementation.
The programme is not expected to be in force this summerfruit export season.
Summerfruit NZ has been liaising closely with MPI on developments, and will continue to do so. MPI have met with Thailand officials to gain further clarity on the programme, and will continue to monitor the situation.
Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
Indonesia prior notification
Indonesia’s prior notification requirements are in force. Refer to the MPI guidance document for further information.
Fruit Fly Official Assurance Programme
The Fruit Fly Contingency Working Group has the goal of minimising trade disruption resulting from fruit fly incursions into New Zealand. Summerfruit NZ has been an active participant in the Group which has two pieces of work that have been, or are nearly, completed. The first output is a framework for agreeing how importing countries will respond to fruit fly incursions, and this is under discussion with several key markets.
The second output is directly applicable to growers and packhouses – a fruit fly host material official assurance programme (OAP). This programme is voluntary, but MPI approved organisations that adopt the OAP into their organisation systems will find it easy to meet the traceability and phytosanitary security requirements of a fruit fly incursion. Many other sectors have already adopted the OAP (e.g., apples, kiwifruit), but Summerfruit has not widely adopted the programme. We encourage you to think of this as an insurance policy – the export season is very short - this Fruit fly OAP gives you an opportunity to be prepared.
Weed seed tolerance (Australia)
MPI has confirmed that DAFF will apply a tolerance of 8 weed seeds in a consignment if detected during on-arrival inspection. This information will not be included in the Australia ICPR, and a Nil tolerance still applies for NZ MPI phytosanitary certification. If weed seeds are detected in Australia, we suggest you communicate with your importer to ensure the tolerance is applied.
Importing Country Phytosanitary Requirements (ICPR)
ICPR information
Access to the correct and up to date information is critical for all export programmes. MAOs should always refer to the latest ICPR document on the MPI website.
Summerfruit New Zealand also provides a quick reference ICPR summary. The purpose of the summary is to inform exporters of the wide range of export markets that can be accessed by New Zealand summerfruit, and provide a brief overview of requirements. However, MAOs should always refer to the MPI ICPR for definitive information.
Any questions or comments can be directed to export@summerfruitnz.co.nz or stephen@solutionz.co.nz
PIER
MPI is developing a searchable database (PIER) to replace ICPR documents. At present it only provides a high level snapshot of requirements, and we recommend you continue to refer to the country pdf documents.
Import Permits
If there is an import permit required and it differs from the ICPR requirements, share it with MPI (plantexports@mpi.govt.nz) as it overrides what is written in the ICPR.
No ICPR for your market?
If you are exporting to a country where no ICPR exists, we recommend you contact MPI as soon as possible to confirm import requirements. This will help with the verification of phytosanitary certificates when exports commence. Information on past exports, or information from your importer, may help this process.
Kuwait & Maldives
A new ICPR has been issued for Kuwait. There is no ICPR for the Maldives. Based on our information, NZ Summerfruit should also be able to exported to the Maldives. We recommend confirming this with your importers before the season.
Agrichemical Compliance
MRLs / PHIs
The 2025-26 season MRL / PHI charts are available on the Summerfruit NZ Portal under Export / MRLs and PHIs. Requirements may change before, or during the export season, please always check the portal and Prunings for updates as the portal contains the definitive version.
Updated ‘Additional Information for Summerfruit Growers is also available on the portal. This document is an important heads-up for growers who are using crop protection products as it details changes from last season and what’s coming up in the near future.
Residue Assurance Programme
Information on the Summerfruit New Zealand Residue Assurance Programme can be found on the Portal (Export / MRLs and PHIs). These documents also advise on how to deal with potential non-compliances in the programme – e.g., if there is no MRL for the country being exported to.
The Residue Assurance Programme relies on submitting export spray diaries to CropSure. If you are not registered for CropSure and you are growing for export, you must convert your spray diaries into something that CropSure can accommodate e.g. hard copy, or an electronic spray diary that can talk to CropSure via an API, and can be submitted. Packhouse clearance for export is based on a compliant spray programme.
Thailand – residue testing
See section above.
Hong Kong – Fluopyram
Summerfruit NZ has provided guidance on how to deal with the use of fluopyram on cherries for export to Hong Kong (Export / MRLs and PHIs)
Chlorpyrifos – EPA revocation of uses
Uses of the EC formulations of chlorpyrifos (450-500 g/L ai, and 480g/L ai - HSR000224 & HSR000225) will be revoked on 8 January 2026. These formulations are those used on summerfruit crops. It will be illegal to use these products after 8 January 2026, however the NZ PHI is 28 days (and longer for some export markets) so this change may not be too disruptive this season but care should be taken to observe the cut-off date.
Australia access update
Guidelines on navigating access to Australia post-OPI have been updated. They include information on the Compliance Based Intervention Scheme (CBIS), how to respond to pest detection on-arrival, and the pest management programme for apricots to Australia.
Revised minimum documentary requirements for Australia
In May 2025, DAFF updated the Minimum documentary and import declaration requirements policy. Refer to section 11 of the policy to identify changes made to version 4.2.
Phytosanitary Inspector Training
Summerfruit New Zealand is transitioning Phytosanitary Inspector Training to an online module. More information will be made available through Prunings when available.
Taiwan food cleansers
Taiwan has implemented a new standard for food cleansers and food contact cleansers. Residue limits (MRLs) are set for food cleansers (such as packhouse water sanitisers), which include acidified sodium chlorite, chlorine dioxide, hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid.
End use concentrations are established for compounds used in pack houses to clean food contact surfaces such as packing lines, water dumps, picking buckets etc. The products used must not exceed the product concentration requirements of the new standard. We recommend you review the products used in your packhouse against the new Taiwan standard.
Summerfruit NZ have commissioned a report (read here) that indicates that it is extremely unlikely that residues from sanitisers would be detected on cherry fruit, with no risk of packhouses exceeding the residue limits specified in the Taiwan standard.