The information in the pre-season update may now be out of date. For recent updates refer to the Portal.
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
- Documentary requirements for Australia
- 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 https://www.mpi.govt.nz/export/food/fruit-and-vegetables/official-assurance-programmes/.
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., 2024-25, 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 done remotely. So, 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 2024-25 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 2024-25 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 remotely using documentation and records. It is essential that registration details (including maps) are accurate and records are up to date.
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. If there is a visit, confirmed by MPI, registered MAOs will be informed.
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.
USA Industry Management Programme (LBAM) (Removed)
The Industry Management Programme for Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) is no longer a requirement. The additional declaration is still required, and growers and exporters should be aware that action may be taken on any unidentifiable leafroller (tortricid) larvae, as well as our native leafrollers.
Thailand Industry Management Programme
Compliance with Thailand’s phytosanitary requirements for cherries and apricots is managed through an industry management programme (Export/Export Programmes/Apricots and Cherries to Thailand). The programme has been updated for the 2024 season. Refer also to the Thailand ICPR and the MPI Guidance document “Export of Specified Commodities to Thailand”.
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 is implementing a new requirement for all imported fruit and vegetables to be tested for agrichemical residues. The regulations are still in the draft stage, but are expected to be implemented by the start of 2025. Summerfruit NZ will provide updates as these become available.
Current information is that there will be three categories of residue testing:
- Surveillance. This is the lowest risk category. Imported produce will be sampled and then released to the importer. Consignments are not held pending test results.
- Active Monitoring. Consignments will be sampled and held while a quick test is done for residues. If the sample passes the quick test, it will be released. If the sample fails, the sample will go to a laboratory for testing and the consignment will not be released until the laboratory result is received and confirms compliance.
- HTR (Hold, Test, Release). This is the highest risk group of suppliers or produce types that regularly fail to comply with residue requirements. Consignments are automatically held pending a laboratory test result.
Where do New Zealand cherries and apricots fit?
- Cherries and apricots from production sources that have previously supplied Thailand are in the Surveillance category. We are clarifying how Thailand defines a production source.
- Production sources that have not previously exported to Thailand will be in the Active Monitoring category. We are clarifying how compliant production sources can move to the lower Surveillance category.
- The very high risk list can be found here, and newer versions of the document will be uploaded to this page in Thai.
What happens if a consignment fails a residue test?
- A single instance of a failure will result in recall of the consignment (if already released to the market), prosecution of the importer, and notification to MPI.
- Multiple instances of residue failures may lead to movement to a higher risk category.
- If a fruit type has, or develops, a history of non-compliance it may be moved to the HTR category as a whole.
Will this cause delays at the border?
- Yes, although delays should be minor in the Surveillance category. Thailand intends for laboratory testing to be turned around within one day.
What can we do to reduce delays?
- Thailand will accept NZ residue tests (ISO17025 accredited lab), this will be accepted in place of on-arrival testing. We are clarifying requirements for this.
- Importers can be part of the GIP+ (Good Importing Practice) Certification Programme, giving preferential access.
- Be compliant and stay in the Surveillance category
- Make sure you comply with PHIs for Thailand.
- Be aware of proposed changes to MRLs, especially where these are lower than current Thailand MRLs.
Further information will be provided as it becomes available. If you have any questions, please contact Stephen Ogden Stephen@solutionz.co.nz
Indonesia prior notification
Indonesia is making changes to its prior notification requirements. These may come into force by January 2025. Some of the required information may not be known until after a vessel or flight’s departure, such as date of loading, waybill number, and phytosanitary certificate number. Summerfruit NZ, and other product groups, is liaising with MPI to clarify requirements and make known our concerns. Further information will be made available as soon as it is known.
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 OAP gives you an opportunity to be prepared.
The OAP can be found at https://www.mpi.govt.nz/export/food/fruit-and-vegetables/official-assurance-programmes/ (password protected using RealMe).
Weed seed tolerance (Australia)
Exporters to Australia will be pleased to hear that the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has increased the tolerance for quarantine weed seeds on fresh produce. This has come about through the engagement of Summerfruit New Zealand and other sectors with MPI through the Australia Border Working Group. The group has been seeking to achieve better, risk based, outcomes from interceptions on New Zealand exports. MPI will update the Australia ICPR in due course – please refer to the ICPR for details.
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 (https://www.mpi.govt.nz/export/export-requirements/icpr-importing-countries-phytosanitary-requirements/icprs-by-country).
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. The link to the full document is here https://www.summerfruitnz.co.nz/assets/Uploads/ICPR-summary-Updated-24-July-2024.pdf
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
There are no ICPRs for Kuwait or the Maldives. Last season MPI confirmed that phytosanitary certificates could be issued for Kuwait until August 2025, or when ICPR information is updated. Based on enquiries last season, 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
Draft 2024-25 season MRL / PHI charts are available on the Summerfruit NZ Portal (Export/MRLs and PHIs). These will be updated and finalised before the start of the export season. Please always check the portal and Prunings for updates as the portal contains the definitive version.
An updated ‘Additional Information for Growers’ will also be available soon 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 (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).
Revised minimum documentary requirements for Australia
In 2021, the minimum documentary requirements changed for Annual Packing Declarations and Treatment Certificates.
The revised Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry policy can be found on the Australian department's website. This describes version 4.1 and is effective from 3 July 2023.
Phytosanitary Inspector Training
Summerfruit New Zealand is again offering Phytosanitary Inspector Training. The course is suitable for MPI Approved Organisation (MAO) packhouses, or those who intend to become MAOs. It is aimed at inspectors, but system administrators and packhouse managers may also find it beneficial. The course is held in-person only.
Exporting packhouses must have at least one phytosanitary inspector who has completed a Summerfruit NZ-approved phytosanitary inspector training programme within the last two years.
Course facilitator: Stephen Ogden (Market Access Solutionz)
Venue: St Enochs Church Hall, 12 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra.
Date: Monday, 18 November 2024
Start Time: 9.00 am
Finish Time: 3.00 pm
Cost per person: $365 (includes morning tea & lunch, GST inclusive)
Preparation:
- Sign up for RealMe and access to the MPI password protected site
- Bring a laptop or tablet - to access online information used in the course
- Bring your MAO System Document – for your reference
Please complete the registration form below and email it to export@summerfruitnz.co.nz for invoicing.
https://www.summerfruitnz.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Phytosanitary-Training-course-2024-Summerfruit-NZ.pdf