Apples

Country
China (CN)
Scientific Name
Malus domestica
Group
Fruit
End use
Fresh
NPPO Details
General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC)
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Refer below
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Yes
Protocol Market Yes
This is a protocol market, workplans are available through MICoR Plants in the 'Documents' section. Access is restricted and requires a logon.

Growers/orchards, packhouses, treatment facilities and cold stores (where external from the packhouse) must be accredited for China. Only fruit sourced, packed and/or treated from an accredited property will be certified.

All registered orchards must have trap surveys conducted for coddling moth (Cydia pomonella), unless the orchard is in Western Australia.

Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.


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 in Canberra 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
Explanation of the endorsements:

Endorsement 1251:

Applies to consignments that originate from Tasmania.

Endorsement 8115:

Applies to consignments that have been subject to onshore cold treatment.

Endorsement 8116 and 8117:

Applies to consignments that originate from Western Australia that will be subject to in-transit cold treatment.

Endorsement 8118:

Applies to consignments that originate from all states outside of Western Australia and Tasmania that will be subject to in-transit cold treatment

Export Inspection

A 600 piece sample rate is to be applied per consignment. Each consignment must have 600 units drawn per species at export inspection, with 60 pieces of fruit cut per 600 drawn to verify absence of Codling Moth.

Phytosanitary certificate requirements

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

The export-approved grower/block number/s must be entered into the “Additional product description" section of the EXDOC Request for Permit (RFP) and be in the example format of: GROWER: APxxx-xxx.

The name and number of the registered establishment where onshore cold treatment was conducted must be entered in the "Lot number" field of the RFP and be in the example format of: TREATMENT AT ABC / XXXX.
Details of treatment to be endorsed on the Phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section. 

Fruit sourced from outside Tasmania must undergo cold disinfestation treatment.
 
Requirements for cold disinfestation treatment (onshore or in-transit) is detailed below.
 
Cold treatment schedules:
 
Fruit sourced from Western Australia subject to cold disinfestation treatment:
  • 1 degree Celsius, or below, for 16 days or more;
OR
  • 2.1 degrees Celsius, or below, for 21 days or more.
 Fruit sourced from all other states and territories of Australia (except Western Australia or Tasmania) subject to cold disinfestation treatment:
  • 3 degrees Celsius or below for 18 days or more.
In-transit cold disinfestation treatment:
Prior to initiating treatment, apples 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 accredited by the department. Fruit must pass inspection prior to the commencement of onshore cold treatment.

The treatment temperature and period (number of consecutive days) must be provided in the treatment section of the phytosanitary certificate.
 
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 TREATMENT AT REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENT NAME / NUMBER. For example, TREATMENT AT ABC FREIGHT / 9999.
 
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.
Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 1251)
1) The consignment is in compliance with requirements described in the "Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Apples from Australia to China", and is free from the quarantine pests of concern to China.
2) The fruit in this consignment originates from Tasmania.

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 8115)
1) The consignment is in compliance with requirements described in the "Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Apples from Australia to China", and is free from the quarantine pests of concern to China.

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 8116)
1) The consignment is in compliance with requirements described in the "Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Apples from Australia to China", and is free from the quarantine pests of 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 3 (EXDOC Endorsement 8117)
1) The consignment is in compliance with requirements described in the "Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Apples from Australia to China", and is free from the quarantine pests of 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 4 (EXDOC Endorsement 8118)
1) The consignment is in compliance with requirements described in the "Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Apples from Australia to China", and is free from the quarantine pests of concern to China.
2) The consignment is subject to in-transit cold disinfestation for 3 degrees celsius, or below, for 18 days or more.
NPPO protocol dated 24 April 2025
05/05/2025 - Updated case based on new NPPO protocol requirements.
30/11/2023 - Updated general requirements to remove restriction for Northern Tasmania.
25/05/2021 - General requirements - Clarification of the pest free areas recognised by GACC.
Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026