Cherries

Country
United States of America (US)
Scientific Name
Prunus avium
Group
Fruit
End use
Fresh
NPPO Details
Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Relevant Web Addresses
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Yes
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Yes
Protocol Market No
Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.


A copy of the import permit must be presented to an Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


Explanation of fruit fly pest free areas (PFAs)

The following areas are recognised as pest free areas for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata):

  • Tasmania

AND

 Exporters sourcing fruit from the Riverland must present a State government certificate at the time of inspection which states all fruit was sourced from properties outside the suspension areas.


Australian states that meet APHIS requirements for pest free areas (PFA) for Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) include: the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

 Western Australia is recognised as a PFA for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni), excluding Queensland fruit fly outbreak zones.

Cherries intended for export to the USA from outside fruit fly free areas, or from Queensland fruit fly outbreak zones within pest free areas, may be exported subject to stand alone cold disinfestation treatment either in-transit or onshore.

Cherries intended for export to the USA from Western Australia may be exported subject to (1) stand alone cold disinfestation treatment or (2) fumigation with methyl bromide (conducted under APHIS inspector supervision) or (3) fumigation with methyl bromide (conducted under APHIS inspector supervision); followed by cold disinfestation treatment either in-transit or onshore.

Consignments undergoing in-transit cold treatment to the USA must be lodged in the USDA PPQ 556 system prior to arrival. Exporters must contact Assessment Services PlantExportsNDH@agriculture.gov.au to request 556 processing at least 2 days before completion is required. Exporters must advise the department at the time of authorisation if transhipment via an additional country or vessel change will occur enroute to the USA or its territories.

Exporters are also responsible for ensuring shipping lines are aware of their obligations. Shipping lines must send a weekly 'pre-alert/vessel summary report' to PlantExportsNDH@agriculture.gov.au. This summary report must include the estimated date of vessel arrival and container details.


Explanation of the endorsements:

Endorsement No 2209
Applies to cherries produced in the pest free area of Tasmania.

Endorsement No 2210
Applies to cherries produced in the pest free area of the Riverland region of South Australia.

Endorsement No 2214
Applies to cherries undergoing in-transit cold treatment.

Endorsement No 2215
Applies to cherries subjected to onshore treatments.

Where applicable, the exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the endorsement and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.
Cherries from outside fruit fly free areas, or from Queensland fruit fly outbreak zones within pest free areas:

Cold disinfestation treatment either in-transit or onshore at:
  • 3 degrees Celsius or below for 15 days;

OR

  • 1 degree Celsius or below for 14 days.
Cherries from Western Australia (excluding any Queensland fruit fly outbreak zones)

Option 1: Cold disinfestation treatment either in-transit or onshore at:
  • 1.11 degrees Celsius or below for 14 days;

OR

  • 1.67 degrees Celsius or below for 16 days;

OR

  • 2.22 degrees Celsius or below for 18 days.

Option 2: On shore fumigation with methyl bromide at 40 grm/m3 at 17.2 degrees Celsius for 2 hours.

Option 3: Fumigation with methyl bromide, conducted under APHIS Authorised Officer supervision; followed by cold treatment either in-transit or onshore.

Methyl bromide at 32 grm/m3 for 2 hours at 21.11 degrees Celsius or above
- with minimum concentration readings at:
  • 708 grm at 0.5 hour;

AND

  • 510 grm at 2 hours.
Followed by cold treatment at:
  • 0.56 to 2.77 degrees Celsius for 4 days;

OR

  • 3.33 to 8.33 degrees Celsius for 11 days.
Methyl bromide at 32 grm/m3 for 2.5 hours at 21.11 degrees Celsius or above
- with minimum concentration readings at:
  • 708 grm at 0.5 hour;

AND

  • 510 grm at 2 hours;

AND

  • 510 grm at 2.5 hours.
Followed by cold treatment at:
  • 1.11 to 4.44 degrees Celsius for 4 days;

OR

  • 5.00 to 8.33 degrees Celsius for 6 days;

OR

  • 8.88 to 13.33 degrees Celsius for 10 days.
Methyl bromide at 32 grm/m3 for 3 hours at 21.11 degrees Celsius or above
- with minimum concentration readings at:
  • 708 grm at 0.5 hour;

AND

  • 510 grm at 2 hours;

AND

  • 510 grm at 2.5 hours;

AND

  • 482 grm at 3 hours.
Followed by cold treatment at:
  • 6.11 to 8.33 degrees Celsius for 3 days;

OR

  • 8.88 to 13.33 degrees Celsius for 6 days
The exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the treatment and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


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

Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 2209)
1) The cherries were produced in Tasmania, which is a fruit fly pest free area,
2) The fruit in this shipment was inspected and found free from Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana).

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 2210)
1) The cherries were produced in the Riverland District of South Australia, which is a fruit fly pest free area,
2) The fruit in this shipment was inspected and found free from Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana).

Option 3 (EXDOC Endorsement 2214)
1) The fruit in this shipment was inspected and found free from Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana).
2) Subject to in-transit cold treatment.
Option 4 (EXDOC Endorsement 2215)
1) The fruit in this shipment was inspected and found free from Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana).
28/06/2023 - Updated general requirements to include information about PPQ 556 processes.
29/03/2023 - Updated general requirements to exclude B. Tryoni outbreak zones in Western Australia from being considered "Queensland fruit fly free"
10/03/2022 - Explanation of endorsement text updated.
Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026