The California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) is contacting the industry with information about a new protocol for shipping citrus fruit to New Zealand. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been negotiating with New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to reduce the impact of MPI’s zero tolerance for split and cut fruit on exports to New Zealand.
APHIS has advised that MPI will require the following measures for exports to New Zealand for the 2020-2021 season:
- Oranges must be fumigated with phosphine for 12 hours for bean thrips and spotted wing drosophila.
- The first 10 shipments, regardless of shipper, require a pre-departure pulp temperature sample that must be less than or equal to 5˚C (41˚F) and must be officially verified on the phytosanitary certificate.
- The phytosanitary certificate must declare that “pre-departure fruit pulp temperature verified at 5˚C (41˚F) or below” for the first 10 shipments only.
- No pre-departure temperature testing or phyto declarations are required after the first 10 shipments.
- Mixed shipments of oranges with other varieties, such as lemons, mandarins and grapefruit must follow the orange requirements.
- Ambient temperatures must be monitored in-transit while maintaining temperatures of 5˚C (41˚F) or below.
- The ambient temperature data must be made available to MPI prior to unloading of the shipping container.
- MPI will review the ambient temperature data for the first 10 shipments of the season and randomly thereafter.
- All other citrus varieties are subject to MPI’s zero tolerance for split and cut fruit, which will be applied during the phytosanitary inspection and inspection on arrival.
