The California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) is providing clarification for California citrus exporters about deadlines for applying fungicide treatments for compliance with the China and Korea protocols.
CCQC is clarifying that treatment deadlines are not regulatory deadlines that will disqualify lots if the deadline is not met, but the date is used by regulators as a guide. The identified deadline provides an assurance that lots treated by this date and in accordance with the labeled fungicides are unlikely to encounter regulatory problems upon arrival at the export destination. Applications that are made after the deadline still provide a measure of protection, but the probability of regulatory problems upon arrival increases when delays occur.
Lots can still qualify for export if the treatments are made within reason according to environmental conditions; generally considered within approximately 7 days of the deadline by regulators.
Given that delays in treatments increase the risk of regulatory incidents upon arrival, growers and packers should coordinate to implement additional risk mitigation measures to minimize the chances of interceptions or rejections if treatment delays occur. These include the following:
- Growers should alert packers when applications are delayed.
- Greater emphasis should be given to monitoring and documenting the results of monitoring for both Phytophthora brown rot and Septoria spot.
- Utilize the NAVEK lab to evaluate disease occurrence and utilize the results for decision making in lots designated for export.
- To the extent possible, harvest lower risk sections of trees. For example, brown rot is mostly in the lower part of the tree, so harvesting above 20 inches reduces the risk.
- Consider additional preharvest treatments such as mixtures of copper and newer labeled fungicides as outline in the protocol GAPs.
- Adjust postharvest treatments according to risk. For example, select postharvest fungicides that suppressSeptoria citri sporulation such as azoxystrobin and TBZ as outlined in protocol GAPs.
- A combination of these measures should be used if treatments must be delayed.
Please contact CCQC President Jim Cranney by telephone at (530) 885-1894 or via e-mail at jcranney@ccqc.org if you have questions or need additional information.
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