The State of Tasmania is recognised by the Philippines Bureau of Plant Industries (BPI) as being a fruit fly pest free area (PFA). Fruit which is produced and packed in Tasmania does not require cold treatment, unless the product is sourced from areas under outbreak.
Fruit which is not sufficiently secured before leaving the PFA is subject to cold treatment conducted either onshore in Australia prior to export, or in-transit during transport via seafreight.
All product exported from the mainland are subject to mandatory cold treatment conducted either onshore or in-transit.
Cold treatment is to be supervised by an authorised officer approved by the Department of Agriculture.
All product from the southern and eastern mainland states of Australia (or a Queensland fruit fly outbreak zone) must be treated against Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) according to the following schedule:
- 16 days at 3 degrees Celsius or below.
All product from Western Australia must be treated against Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) according to the following schedule:
- 12 days at 1.1 degrees Celsius or below;
OR
- 16 days at 2.2 degrees Celsius or below;
OR
- 20 days at 3.0 degrees Celsius or below.
Before treatment, temperature sensors must be calibrated. All "Calibration results" must read "0.0" degrees Celsius.
Onshore cold treatment:Onshore cold treatment must be carried out at cold treatment facilities approved by the Philippines BPI and be completed onshore prior to the fruit being loaded into shipping containers or air containers for export.
Temperature sensors must be placed under the supervision of an authorised officer (AO) approved by the department.
Temperature recording equipment must automatically record the temperature at least every two (2) hours for the duration of the treatment.
The exporter is to provide a printout of data downloaded from temperature monitors as evidence attesting to onshore cold treatment, as evidence when requesting authorisation.
Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.For electronic certification the registered establishment of the treatment facility number/s must be entered into the "shipping marks" section of the Request for Permit (RFP) in this format: REGISTERED EST:XXXX
Note: BPI have confirmed that inspection may be undertaken prior to or post onshore cold treatment.
In-transit cold treatment:
In-transit cold treatment commences as soon as the temperature probes record the required treatment temperature and continues until the required time is achieved.
Fruits must be pre-cooled to the target treatment temperature prior to loading.
Before treatment, temperature sensors must be calibrated to 0.0 degrees Celsius. All "Calibration results" must state "0.0" on the Calibration record.
The cold treatment schedule must be met before the vessel arrives at the approved Philippines port of entry.
Data from temperature monitors must be downloaded and the printout shall be made available to the Philippines Bureau of Plant Industries Officer at the point of arrival, who shall verify if the treatment was successfully completed.
