Apricots

Country
China (CN)
Scientific Name
Prunus armeniaca
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/
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Refer below
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Yes
Protocol Market Yes
This is a Protocol market, growers/orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities must meet the requirements outlined in the 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.


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

Note:

  • An import permit is not required for export certification BUT is required by China on arrival.
  • If an 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 3578:
 Applies to consignments exported under one of the following pathways:
  • Product sourced from fruit fly PFA
  • Onshore cold treatment
  • Fumigation followed by onshore cold treatment.
Endorsement 3579:
Applies to consignments sourced from:
  • Areas where Mediterranean fruit fly is known not to occur and the consignments are subject to in-transit cold treatment.
Endorsement 3580 and 1888:
Applies to consignments sourced from:
  • Areas where Mediterranean fruit fly is known to occur, or where Mediterranean fruit fly area freedom status has been suspended, and the consignments are subject to in-transit cold treatment.
The exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the treatment and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.

Export inspection:
 For apricots, each consignment must have 600 units drawn at export inspection, with 60 pieces of fruit cut per 600 drawn to verify absence of Codling Moth. 

Phytosanitary certification:
The packhouse accreditation number/s must be entered into the "shipping marks" section of the EXDOC Request for Permit (RFP) and be in the format of: P/HOUSE:SFXXXX-PCTXX

The onshore cold treatment registered establishment name and number where the onshore cold treatment was conducted must be entered in the "lot number" field of the EXDOC and be in the example format of: TREATMENT AT ABC / XXXX.

The fumigation and onshore cold treatment registered establishments name and number where the fumigation and onshore cold treatments were conducted must be entered in the "lot number" field of the EXDOC and be in the example format of: TREATMENTS AT ABC / XXXX.
Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.
 There are two treatment options available for fruit sourced from outside recognised fruit fly PFAs or where area freedom status has been suspended. 

Treatment options:
  • Fruit sourced from outside a recognised PFA must undergo one of the following approved treatment options.
  • Fumigation rate compensation is not permitted for this market.
Option 1:
Cold treatment (onshore or in-transit) - Conducted onshore in Australia or in-transit during sea voyage to China.

Cold treatment schedules:
  • 3 degrees Celsius or below for 18 days or more (for fruit grown in Mediterranean fruit fly free areas). For fruit grown in all states except Western Australia.
OR
  • 2.1 degrees Celsius or below for 21 days or more (for fruit grown in Western Australia or where Mediterranean fruit fly area freedom status has been suspended). Fruit grown in all states, including Western Australia.
OR
  • 1 degree Celsius or below for 16 days or more (for fruit grown in Western Australia or where Mediterranean fruit fly area freedom status has been suspended). Fruit grown in all states, including Western Australia.

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 2:
Methyl bromide fumigation followed by onshore cold treatment - Conducted within the same treatment facility (permitted for fruit sourced from all States).
  • Fumigation with Methyl bromide at 32grm/m3 for 2 hours at a pulp temperature of 21 degrees Celsius or above at no more than 50 per cent chamber load, followed by onshore cold treatment at 2.77 degrees Celsius or lower for 4 days; 
OR
  • Fumigation with Methyl bromide at 32grm/m3 for 2.5 hours at a pulp temperature of 21 degrees Celsius or above at no more than 50 per cent chamber load, followed by onshore cold treatment at 4.44 degrees Celsius or lower for 4 days; 
OR
  • Fumigation with methyl bromide at 32grm/m3 for 3 hours at a pulp temperature of 21 degrees Celsius or above at no more than 50 per cent chamber load, followed by an onshore cold treatment at 8.33 degrees Celsius or lower for 3 days.

Details of treatment to be endorsed on the Phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section:

Format for Cold treatment conducted onshore (example)

  • Treatment code as: “COLD” and treatment information as: “At 3 degrees Celsius or below for 18 days or more”

Format for combination treatment (example)

  • Treatment code as: “FUMIG” and treatment information as: “With Methyl bromide at 32grm/m3 for 3 hours at a pulp temperature of 21 degrees Celsius or above at no more than 50 per cent chamber load",
  • Treatment code as: “COLD” and rate as: "at 8.33 degrees Celsius or lower for 3 days”.

Note: Treatment dates must be included in the appropriate field.

Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 3578)
1) This consignment complies with the protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of nectarines, peaches, plums or apricots from Australia to China, and is free of any pests of quarantine concern to China.

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 3579)
1) This consignment complies with the protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of nectarines, peaches, plums or apricots 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 at 3 degrees Celsius, or below, for 18 days or more.

Option 3 (EXDOC Endorsement 3580)
1) This consignment complies with the protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of nectarines, peaches, plums or apricots 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 at 2.1 degrees Celsius or below for 21 days or more.

Option 4 (EXDOC Endorsement 1888)
1) This consignment complies with the protocol of phytosanitary requirements for the export of nectarines, peaches, plums or apricots 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 at 1 degree Celsius or below for 16 days or more.
 NPPO correspondence dated 4 February 2019 
22/12/2025 - Updated treatment requirements to include phytosanitary certificate wording.
28/01/2025 - Updated general requirements for example format of the "lot number" field.
11/11/2021 - Update to OSCT requirements.
Initial Uploaded: 27/11/2017
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026