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Plants

Oranges, Mandarins, Lemons, Grapefruit, Limes, Tangelo

No

Country:

 China (CN)

Scientific Name:

 Citrus spp.

Group:

 Fruit

End Use:

 Fresh

NPPO Details:
General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC)

Relevant Web Addresses:


​http://english.customs.gov.cn/

[expand all]

Export Criteria

Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Refer below
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Yes
Protocol Market Yes

General Requirements

This is a protocol market, growers/orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities must meet the requirements outlined in the China citrus workplan and be accredited by the department for China. Only fruit sourced, packed and/or treated from accredited properties will be certified. 

Protocols and workplans are available through Micor Plants in the Documents section. Access is restricted and requires a logon.

The following species of citrus are permitted to be exported from Australia to China:
  • Citrus sinensis (Oranges)
  • Citrus reticulata (Mandarins)
  • Citrus limon (Lemons)
  • Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit)
  • Citrus aurantifolia (Limes)
  • Citrus latifolia (Limes)
  • Citrus limonia (Limes)
  • Citrus tangelo (Tangelo)
  • Citrus grandis x Citrus paradisi (Sweetie grapefruit)

Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.
A 600 piece sample rate is to be applied per consignment.

An import permit is not required to be sighted at either inspection or issuance of export certification BUT is required by China on arrival.

If the import permit is not available the phytosanitary certificate is to be issued with the import permit section completed as NOT SUPPLIED.

If an import permit is provided in which the conditions vary from the protocol, please refer to the Horticulture Exports Program - horticultureexports@aff​.gov.au before any further export activity is undertaken. 

​​​​Explanation of fruit fly pest free areas (PFAs)​

The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) recognises all states and territories of Australia, except Western Australia, as being free of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata).

GACC recognises the following areas as being free from both Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata):

  • ​​​The state of Tasmania

  • ​​the Riverland region of South Australia

​
Explanation of the endorsements

Endorsement 5380:
Applies to consignments that originate from Tasmania.

Endorsement 1987:
Applies to consignments that have been subject to onshore cold treatment.

Endorsement 1279 and 2086:
Applies to consignments that originate from Western Australia that will be subject to in-transit cold treatment.

Endorsement 5381:
Applies to consignments that originate from all states outside of Western Australia or Tasmania that will be subject to in-transit cold treatment.

Endorsement 5382:
Applies to consignments of lemons only, that originate from all states outside of Western Australia or Tasmania, which will be subject to in-transit cold treatment.

The export-approved packhouse number must be entered into the "Shipping marks" section of the EXDOC Request for Permit (RFP) and in the example format of: "PACKHOUSE NO: XXXX".

Treatment

The below treatment schedules override the schedules in the citrus to China Work Plan
Fruit sourced from outside Tasmania must undergo cold disinfestation treatment for fruit flies.

Requirements for cold disinfestation treatment (Onshore or In-transit)

Cold treatment schedules:

Fruit sourced from Western Australia:
  • at or below 1 degree Celsius for 16 days; 
OR
  • at or below 2.1 degrees Celsius for 21 days.​


Fruit sourced from all other states and territories of Australia:

  • at or below 3 degrees Celsius for 18 days; 
OR
  • at or below 3 degrees Celsius for 16 days (option for lemons only).

In-transit cold disinfestation treatment

In-transit treatment may commence prior to departure, in Australia, and be completed in-transit or on arrival.
Prior to initiating treatment, fruit must be cooled to 4 degrees or below.

If the consignment is subjected to in-transit cold disinfestation treatment, the original copy of the certificate of calibration must accompany the phytosanitary certificate.


Onshore cold disinfestation treatment
Onshore cold treatment facilities must be registered establishments and also be accredited by the department.​
​Fruit must pass inspection prior to the commencement of onshore cold treatment. Treated fruit cannot be stored with any other fruit.

The name and number of the registered establishment where onshore cold treatment was conducted must be entered in the "Lot number" field of the EXDOC request for permit (RFP) and be in the example format of: ONSHORE COLD TREATMENT AT REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENT NAME / NUMBER. Example: ONSHORE COLD TREATMENT AT ABC FREIGHT / 9999.

If the consignment is subjected to onshore cold disinfestation treatment, treatment temperature and period (number of consecutive days) must be provided in the treatment section of the phytosanitary certificate.

Note:

  • The onshore cold treatment temperature data (report) must be endorsed by the Authorised Officer (with the appropriate job function) to confirm that the treatment has been successful.
  • For onshore cold treatment the exporter is responsible to ensure that each consignment is accompanied with the onshore cold treatment data and onshore cold treatment calibration and re-calibration record/certificate as required by the protocol.
Fumigation

Requirements for methyl bromide fumigation to manage Fuller's Rose Weevil.

This is not a treatment for fruit flies and is an additional treatment option for fruit that is being cold treated or sourced from a PFA. 

Fumigation facilities must be registered establishments and also be accredited by the department.

Methyl bromide fumigation is a treatment option for Fuller's rose weevil where an orchard is unable to meet the requirements of orchard freedom or a systems approach. 


One of the following rates must be applied:
  • with methyl bromide at 32grm/m3 for 2 hours at 21 degrees Celsius or above;
OR
  • with methyl bromide at 40grm/m3 for 2 hours at 16-20 degrees Celsius;
OR
  • with methyl bromide at ​48grm/m3 for 2 hours at 11-15 degrees Celsius.

​Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.

Additional Declaration/Endorsements

Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 5380)
1) This consignment of citrus complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Citrus Fruit from Australia to China, and is free of any pests of quarantine concern to China.
2) The fruit in this consignment originates from Tasmania.

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 1987)
1) This consignment of citrus complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Citrus Fruit from Australia to China, and is free of any pests of quarantine concern to China.
 
Option 3 (EXDOC Endorsement 1279)
1) This consignment of citrus complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Citrus Fruit from Australia to China, and is free of any pests of quarantine concern to China,
2) The consignment is subject to in-transit cold disinfestation for 1 degree Celsius, or below, for 16 days or more.
Option 4 (EXDOC Endorsement 2086)
1) This consignment of citrus complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Citrus Fruit from Australia to China, and is free of any pests of quarantine concern to China,
2) The consignment is subject to in-transit cold disinfestation for 2.1 degrees Celsius, or below, for 21 days or more.
 
Option 5 (EXDOC Endorsement 5381)
1) This consignment of citrus complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Citrus Fruit from Australia to China, and is free of any pests of quarantine concern to China,
2) The consignment is subject to in-transit cold disinfestation for 3 degrees Celsius, or below, for 18 days or more.
 
Option 6 (EXDOC Endorsement 5382)
1) This consignment of citrus complies with the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Citrus Fruit from Australia to China, and is free of any pests of quarantine concern to China,
2) The consignment is subject to in-transit cold disinfestation for 3 degrees Celsius, or below, for 16 days or more.​

Reference

 NPPO letter dated 29 December 2019​

Latest updates

30/11/2023 - Updated general requirements to remove restriction for Northern Tasmania.
20/12/2021 - Update to treatment section - Clarified onshore cold treatment certifying requirements.
28/04/2021 - Update to treatment section - Removed requirement for fumigation facility details to appear on certificate.

Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 01/02/2024

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