Lemons
| Criteria | Criteria Required? |
|---|---|
| Import Permit | No |
| Phytosanitary Certificate | Yes |
| Additional Declaration/Endorsement | Yes |
| Protocol Market | Yes |
A foreign food facility as described in the Special Act on Imported Food Safety Management for fresh fruits and vegetables includes growers, packaging and treatment facilities (registered export establishments), etc.
This ICR only applies to Citrus limon and Citrus x meyeri.
This is a protocol market. Workplans are available through Micor Plants in the 'Documents' section. Access is restricted and requires a logon.
All exports under the in-transit cold treatment pathway must undergo joint pre-clearance inspections at the designated export registered establishments. Exporters should confirm that their intended inspection and load out facility is hosting an APQA officer prior to booking inspection of consignments and loading of in-transit cold treatment containers. Phytosanitary inspections must occur at the same registered establishment as loading. For further information please contact HorticultureExports@aff.gov.au
Prior to export the consignment must be inspected by an Authorised Officer to ensure pest freedom and all vents have been covered. A 600 unit sample of the completed consignment will be inspected prior to export. During inspection, 10% of sampled fruits will have the calyx (button) lifted to inspect for pests.
Each pallet must have the words "FOR KOREA" in English printed on all four sides of the pallet with the words "Inspection Completed" after the Korean/Australian inspection.
For sea freight shipments, both the container and seal numbers must be recorded on the phytosanitary certificate. Air freight consignments should have the flight number, if known, included on the phytosanitary certificate
The accredited packhouse number/s must be entered in the phytosanitary certificate under item 12 (Distinguishing marks and Container No). This must be entered into the "shipping marks" section of the EXDOC Request for Permit (RFP) and be in the example format of: PACKHOUSE NO: 0000.
All consignments are subject to an import inspection on arrival. APQA will take samples from consignments and conduct laboratory tests.
Explanation of endorsements
Endorsement 3456:
Applies to fruit sourced and packed from the Riverland which is recognised as a fruit fly PFA.
Endorsement 3457:
Applies to fruit produced in Tasmania.
Applies to fruit produced outside fruit fly pest free areas, subject to in-transit cold treatment.
Note: Onshore cold treatment is not permitted at this time.
All fruit sourced from outside recognised PFAs must be cold treated.
The following schedule must be applied for onshore and in-transit cold treatment:
- 1 degree Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, or below for 14 days;
OR
- 2 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, or below for 16 days;
OR
- 3 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, or below for 18 days.
Fruit must be pre-cooled to the nominated treatment temperature, or below, prior to commencing cold treatment. An Authorised Officer must confirm preliminary cooling by testing randomly selected fruit.
A minimum of three fruit pulp temperature sensors is required for in-transit cold treatment.
Temperature sensor records must be downloaded by a representative of the shipping company on arrival in Korea and sent to APQA at the first port of call. The treatment is not completed until APQA verifies that the temperature records meet the treatment schedule.
Onshore cold treatment
Note: Onshore cold treatment is not permitted at this time.
All airfreight shipments from non pest free areas must undergo onshore cold treatment.
The name and number of the registered establishment where onshore cold treatment was conducted must be entered in the ‘Lot number’ field (a free text field) of the EXDOC Request For Permit (RFP) and be in the example format of: ONSHORE COLD TREATMENT AT REGISTERED ESTABLISHMENT NAME / NUMBER.
The treatment temperature and the duration (number of consecutive days) must be inserted into the treatment section of the phytosanitary certificate.
A minimum of four fruit pulp temperature sensors is required for onshore cold treatment. Before the treatment ceases the temperature data must be downloaded, printed and provided to the Authorised Officer and APQA inspector for review to ensure the treatment meets the requirements.
Reconditioning
The type of reconditioning or re-treatment is at the exporter’s discretion and it must be done under the APQA supervision, details of treatment are to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.
1) The lemons were maintained at a temperature at or below 1 degree Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius for 14 days or more, and
Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 1899)
1) The lemons were maintained at a temperature at or below 2 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius for 16 days or more, and
Option 3 (EXDOC Endorsement 3023)
1) The lemons were maintained at a temperature at or below 3 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius for 18 days or more, and
Option 4 (EXDOC Endorsement 2852)
1) The lemons are considered free from Mycosphaerella citri, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora hibernalis, Septoria citri as a result of routine field inspection,
2) The fruit core temperature has been lowered to current Korean requirements through pre-cooling prior to loading of the container,
3) The lemons shall be cold treated at or below 1 degree, plus or minus 0.5 degrees, for 14 days or more.
Option 5 (EXDOC Endorsement 2235)
1) The lemons are considered free from Mycosphaerella citri, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora hibernalis, Septoria citri as a result of routine field inspection,
2) The fruit core temperature has been lowered to current Korean requirements through pre-cooling prior to loading of the container,
3) The lemons shall be cold treated at or below 2 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, for 16 days or more.
Option 6 (EXDOC Endorsement 3349)
1) The lemons are considered free from Mycosphaerella citri, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora hibernalis, Septoria citri as a result of routine field inspection,
2) The fruit core temperature has been lowered to current Korean requirements through pre-cooling prior to loading of the container,
3) The lemons shall be cold treated at or below 3 degrees Celsius, plus or minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, for 18 days or more.
Option 7 (EXDOC Endorsement 3456)
1) Oranges or lemons in this consignment were produced in the Riverland which is recognised as a fruit fly free area,
2) Oranges or lemons in this consignment were inspected and found to be free from quarantine pests specified by APQA and are considered free from Mycosphaerella citri, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora hibernalis and Septoria citri as a result of routine field inspection.
Option 8 (EXDOC Endorsement 3457)
1) Oranges or lemons in this consignment were produced in the State of Tasmania which is recognised as a fruit fly free area,
2) Oranges or lemons in this consignment were inspected and found to be free from quarantine pests specified by APQA and are considered free from Mycosphaerella citri, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora hibernalis and Septoria citri as a result of routine field inspection,
31/05/2024 - Exports can now commence out of approved facilities.
10/04/2024 - Updated general requirements to state exports under pre-clearance have not yet commenced for 2024.
08/06/2023 - Updated general requirements to include more information about in transit cold treatment.
01/05/2023 - Updated general requirements to state exports under pre-clearance have not yet commenced for 2023.
07/11/2022 - Updated treatment details and amended endorsement to clarify wording. Updated general requirements to indicate the end of the export season for the year.
24/06/2022 - Updated general requirements to include informtion about intended inspection and load out facilities.
02/06/2022 - Exports can now commence out of approved facilities.
16/05/2022 - Updated general requirements to state exports not to commence until notified.
21/12/2021 - Update to treatment requirements - Clarified onshore cold treatment certifying requirements
27/05/2021 - Clarification around ITCT load-out arrangements for 2021
25/01/2021 - Update to import requirements - update to text related to fruit fly outbreak.