Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.
Only avocados of the Persea americana ‘Hass’ cultivar are permitted by Japan MAFF.
Explanation of fruit fly pest free areas (PFAs)
The following areas are recognised as pest free areas for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni):
AND
AND
Exporters sourcing fruit from the Riverland must present a State government certificate at the time of inspection which states all fruit was sourced from properties outside the suspension areas.
Avocados sourced from Tasmania
Japan recognises Tasmania free from both Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly therefore fresh avocado fruit of the ‘Hass’ cultivar grown in Tasmania are not subject to MAFF’s protocol requirements.
Hass avocados harvested in Tasmania must be packed and inspected in Tasmania.
Note: Exporters looking to export utilising this pathway would need to seek confirmation directly from Japan MAFF as to the detailed conditions and contact
Horticulture Exports Program prior to export.
Avocados sourced from Western Australia and Riverland (South Australia)
This is a protocol market. Detailed information can be found in the protocol available through Micor Plants in the
'Documents' section. Access is restricted and requires a logon.
Orchards and packhouses must be accredited for export by the department.
Growers and packers must apply for accreditation online by the date specified in the Industry Advice Notice (IAN) prior to commencement of each season.
Growers requirements
Only fresh avocado fruit meeting the “hard mature condition” can be packed for export to Japan.
Under the hard mature condition, fruit must be deliberately detached from healthy branches of living trees and show no signs of softening or spotted areas, or of having areas of breakdown or broken skin on any part of the fruit.
Packhouses requirements
Packhouses must source avocados from orchards accredited by the department.
When product arrives at the packhouse, fruit must either:
- be transported to the packhouse and securely packed (as per packing requirements of protocol section 10) within 24 hours from the time of harvest, OR
- enter into secure cold room storage within 24 hours from the time of harvest
If there is avocado fruit being stored at the packhouse intended for markets other than Japan, fruit destined for Japan must be kept appropriately segregated and be easily identifiable at all times.
Avocados must be packed and secured within the PFA (Western Australia, Tasmania or the Riverland region of South Australia). Security of fruit must not be breached during transportation and must remain intact upon arrival at the Registered Establishment
Packaging requirements
One of the following requirements must be met for transport where packaging material has ventilation holes:
Security of individual cartons: Vented packing cartons must be made insect proof through the use of mesh or plastic wrap (any holes must be <1.6mm).
Individually secured packages may be palletised for transport and may be deconsolidated provided individual package security is not breached.
Security of palletised cartons: Cartons with unmeshed vents, or other unsecure packages that are placed on a pallet must be secured with insect proof mesh or plastic wrap covering all surfaces of the pallet.
Where goods are secured at pallet level and is transferred after inspection, a label with the following wording in large bold font must be attached to the face of the pallet:
“Export secure pallet. Do not deconsolidate”
For airfreight, the following label must also be included on each secured carton or secured pallet attached to the zip ties that secure the insect proof mesh:
“PLANT QUARANTINE AUSTRALIA”
Note: The style and format (i.e. capitalisation of font and layout) of the labelling must be followed exactly otherwise consignments will not be authorised by the department. Failure to meet these requirements will result in rejection in Japan.
Labelling requirements
MAFF has specific labelling requirements that must be strictly adhered to, each label must be printed, and not handwritten. Any variation will not be accepted unless prior approval has been provided by MAFF.
Each secured carton or secured pallet must be labelled and must be placed in an easily visible location and be clear and easy to read. Each label must include the following information:
- Produce of Australia
- Name of exporting company
- Name of fruit (common name and variety)
- Orchard accreditation number to block level e.g AVXX-AXX or AVXXXX-AXX
- Packhouse accreditation number e.g. AVXX-PCTXX or AVXXXX-PCTXX
- Export establishment registration number (if different from the packhouse accreditation number)
The following labels must also be included on each secured carton or on a secured pallet:
“EXPORTED HASS AVOCADO FOR JAPAN”;
“PASSED FOR EXPORT” (applied after inspection)
Export inspection
All fresh avocados for export to Japan are subject to 600 or a 2% of unit sampling inspection.
At inspection the authorised officer must verify that the fruit is;
- free from pests and diseases, and
- free from soil, weed seeds and extraneous material, and
- only Hass avocados, and
- undamaged and in the hard mature condition.
MAFF considers all pests and diseases to be of quarantine concern unless they are specified in the non-quarantine pest list available on the MAFF website
http://www.pps.go.jp/english/ and refer to "Non-quarantine pest list".
Any pest or disease not specifically listed on the non-quarantine list is deemed by Japan to be of quarantine concern.
After inspection, the AO must apply a “PASSED FOR EXPORT” label/sticker. This can be a single label/sticker per pallet or carton. After inspection the consignment must be re-secured.
Certification requirements
The phytosanitary certificate must also include the scientific name, common name and cultivar of avocado fruit and contain the packhouse accreditation number.
The accredited packhouse number/s must be entered in the phytosanitary certificate under item 12 (Distinguishing marks and Container nos). This must be entered into the “shipping marks” section of the EXDOC Request for Permit (RFP) and be in the format of: P-house AVXX-PCTXX or AVXXXX-PCTXX
For sea freight shipments, both the container and seal numbers must be recorded on the phytosanitary certificate. Air freighted consignments should have the flight number, if known, included on the phytosanitary certificate.
- For avocados sourced from PFAs, the phytosanitary certificate shall specify the relevant PFAs.
