Regarding the Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for Exporting of Chinese Jujubes from China to Australia

In accordance with the regulations of the Chinese Customs and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh Chinese jujubes to Australia, effective immediately, fresh Chinese jujubes that meet the following requirements are permitted to be exported to Australia.

 

I. Inspection and Quarantine Basis

(1) Biosafety Law of the People's Republic of China;

(2) Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Animal and Plant Quarantine and its implementing regulations;

(3) Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and its implementing regulations;

(4) Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of Outbound Fruits;

(5) Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Chinese Jujubes to Australia between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

 

II. Permitted Export Commodity Names

Fresh jujubes, scientific name Ziziphus jujuba Mill., English name Jujube.

 

III. Enterprise Registration

Orchards, packaging plants, and quarantine treatment facilities exporting to Australia must be registered with the Chinese Customs. The Chinese Customs must provide the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry with a list of registered products before the start of the export season. Registration information should include the name, address, and registration number to facilitate accurate traceability of exported goods if they do not comply with the relevant provisions of this announcement.

 

IV. List of Pests Requiring Risk Management Measures

(I) Quarantine Pests

1. Amphitetranychus viennensis

2. Heliococcus destructor

3. Bactrocera correcta

4. Bactrocera dorsalis

5. Carpomyia vesuviana

6. Zeugodacus cucurbitae

7. Carposina sasakii

(II) Restricted Pests

Scirtothrips dorsalis

 

V. Pre-Export Requirements

(I) Orchard Management

1. Exporting orchards must be aware of quarantine pests and restricted pests of concern to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and must comply with field hygiene and control measures.

2. Exporting orchards must, under the supervision of Chinese customs, clean up fallen fruits, prune at the end of the season, and implement integrated pest management measures, including pest monitoring, chemical or biological control, and agricultural operations, to maintain good hygiene in the orchard to prevent and control pests.

3. Exporting orchards must keep pest monitoring and control records and provide them to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry upon request. The records should include detailed information such as the name, active ingredient, application date, concentration, etc. of all chemical agents used during the growing season.

(II) Quarantine pest management measures.

1. Management measures for Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera correcta, and Zeugodacus cucurbitae.

Fresh dates exported to Australia must come from Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera correcta, and Zeugodacus cucurbitae-free areas recognized and approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or be cold-treated.

(1) Non-pest areas. According to the guidelines of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 10 (ISPM 10) and No. 26 (ISPM 26), the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recognizes and approves the area north of 33 degrees north latitude in China as a pest-free area for Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera correcta and Zeugodacus cucurbitae.

Once the above-mentioned fruit flies are detected, the Chinese Customs shall notify the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry within 48 hours and activate the national emergency response plan, including demarcation surveys by setting up additional traps. The additional traps shall determine the scope of the outbreak, the location of the outbreak, the surrounding areas and the buffer zone. At the same time, sampling inspections shall be carried out on fruits in the infected areas.

Fresh dates from fruit fly outbreak areas shall be suspended from export to Australia or undergo quarantine treatment approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

(2) Cold treatment. Fresh dates from fruit fly infested areas or suspended fruit fly-free areas must be cold-treated in accordance with pre-export cold-treatment procedures or in-transit cold-treatment procedures.

Cold-treatment indicators must meet the following conditions: flesh temperature of 1.11°C or below for 14 or more days; or flesh temperature of 1.67°C or below for 16 or more days; or flesh temperature of 2.22°C or below for 18 or more days.

2. Carpomyia vesuviana.

Fresh dates exported to Australia must come from areas recognized and approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for Carpomyia vesuviana-free areas in accordance with the guidelines of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 10 (ISPM 10) and No. 26 (ISPM 26). Areas outside Turpan, Xinjiang, China, are recognized by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as Carpomyia vesuviana-free areas.

Once Carpomyia vesuviana is detected in a non-pest-fly zone, China Customs must notify the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry within 48 hours and activate the national emergency response plan, including demarcation surveys by setting up additional traps. The additional traps must determine the scope of the outbreak, the location of the outbreak, the surrounding areas and the buffer zone. At the same time, sampling inspections must be carried out on fruits in the infected area.

Fresh dates from fruit fly outbreak areas must be suspended from export to Australia.

3. Carposina sasakii management measures.

Fresh dates exported to Australia must come from Carposina sasakii-free areas or non-pest-fly production areas recognized and approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or orchards that implement systematic control measures.

(1) Non-pest-fly zone or non-pest-fly production area. The pest-free areas or pest-free production areas of Carposina sasakii should be recognized and approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in accordance with the guidelines of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 4 (ISPM 4) and No. 10 (ISPM 10). If Carposina sasakii is detected, China Customs must notify the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry within 48 hours, immediately suspend trade in the relevant areas, and conduct an investigation. Trade will resume after the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recognizes that the eradication measures taken meet the requirements or the fruit has been treated with pest control approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

(2) Systematic control measures. For orchards outside recognized pest-free areas or pest-free production areas, a systematic approach recognized and approved by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry should be adopted, including orchard control and monitoring, trapping, fruit dissection inspection, etc.

4. Management measures for Amphitetranychus viennensis, Heliococcus destructor and Scirtothrips dorsalis

Fresh dates exported to Australia must adhere to standard production management practices, including orchard monitoring, pest and disease prevention and control measures, packaging processes, and plant quarantine, to ensure that the exported fresh dates meet Australian import requirements. If Amphitetranychus viennensis, Heliococcus destructor, and Scirtothrips dorsalis are found, remedial measures must be implemented.

(III) Packaging Plant Management

1. Packaging of fresh dates exported to Australia must be conducted at a packaging plant registered and approved by Chinese Customs. The packaging plant and cold storage must maintain good sanitary conditions and have measures in place to prevent reinfestation by pests.

2. During processing and packaging, fresh dates must be selected, sorted, and graded to ensure they are free of insects, mites, rotten fruit, branches, leaves, roots, and soil. Defective fruit must be removed during processing and treated with post-harvest fungicides.

3. Packaged fresh dates must be immediately stored and kept separate to prevent reinfestation by pests.

(IV) Packaging Material Requirements

1. Packaging materials must be clean, unused, and comply with Australian plant quarantine requirements.

2. If packaging boxes have ventilation holes, insect screens (maximum pore size 1.6 mm), durable plastic bags or liners (including perforations), or tape should be used to cover the ventilation holes in each box or the entire pallet. Alternatively, ventilated boxes can be packed directly in a secure room or container to prevent reinfestation by pests.

3. If wooden packaging is used, it must comply with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15).

4. Each box must be labeled in English with the fruit name, country, place of origin (province, city), orchard or its registration number, and packing house or its registration number. Each box and pallet must be labeled "Exported to Australia" in English.

(V) Pre-export Inspection and Quarantine.

1. Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel will inspect each batch of fresh dates exported to Australia, taking at least 600 samples for full inspection.

2. Fresh jujubes exported to Australia must be free of quarantine pests and restricted pests of concern to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. They must not contain any contaminated plant materials (such as leaves, branches, seeds, etc.), weed seeds, or soil, and the fruit surface must be clean.

(VI) Phytosanitary Certificate Requirements

1. Upon passing quarantine inspection, China Customs will issue a phytosanitary certificate stating: "This consignment complies with the requirements specified in the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Chinese Jujubes from China to Australia and is free from any quarantine pests of concern to Australia."

2. For fresh jujubes that undergo pre-export cold treatment, the temperature and duration of the cold treatment, as well as the name or number of the treatment facility, container number, and seal number (for sea freight) must be indicated on the phytosanitary certificate.

3. For fresh jujubes that undergo in-transit cold treatment, the cold treatment may begin before leaving the Chinese port and must be completed during or upon arrival at the first port of call between China and Australia. Goods that undergo cold treatment during transport must be marked "SUBJECT TO IN-TRANSIT COLD DISINFESTATION TREATMENT" before the treatment time and temperature, and the treatment must be verified based on the fruit pulp temperature. The phytosanitary certificate should indicate the cold treatment temperature and duration, as well as the container number and seal number (for seaborne cargo).

4. For fresh dates originating from a pest-free area or pest-free production area, the phytosanitary certificate must indicate the pest-free area or pest-free production area.

 

VI. Quarantine Inspection and Disqualification Handling by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Upon arrival of fresh Chinese dates at Australian ports, staff from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will conduct a phytosanitary inspection.

(1) If fresh dates are found to have come from unauthorized orchards, packaging plants, or quarantine treatment facilities, the shipment will not be allowed entry.

(2) If live quarantine pests, controlled items, or other conditions that do not comply with the requirements of this Announcement are detected, the shipment will be deemed unqualified, and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry will return, dispose of, or destroy the unqualified shipment.

(3) If fruit flies or other quarantine pests are detected, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry will communicate with Chinese Customs and take appropriate measures based on the pest situation.

 

VII. Verification by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry

Before trade commences, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry may review China's plant quarantine system for fresh jujube exports, export orchard certification, pre-export quarantine, and certification through document review or on-site inspections to ensure that fresh jujube exports from China to Australia comply with the requirements of this Announcement.

Registered export orchards must maintain records of their control measures for review. Upon request, Chinese Customs must provide the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry with detailed control plans before trade commences.

 

GACC

August 1, 2025

 

Cold treatment operation procedures before export

 

I. Cold treatment facilities

1. Cold treatment before shipment can only be carried out in cold treatment facilities approved by China Customs .

2. Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel must ensure that the cold treatment facilities used by exporters meet appropriate standards and have refrigeration equipment that can enable the fruit to reach and maintain the required temperature.

3. China Customs or its authorized personnel must retain the registration documents of the facilities approved for cold treatment of fruits before export to China. The documents should include the following:

(1) The location and construction plans of all facilities, including the contact details of the owners/operators;

(2) The size and capacity of the facility;

(3) Type of insulation for walls, floors, and ceilings;

(4) Brand, make, type and capacity of refrigeration compressor, evaporator and air circulation system;

(5) Specifications and details of the equipment's temperature range, defrost cycle control, and any integrated temperature recording equipment.

4. Before the start of each fresh date export season, Chinese customs must submit a list of currently registered cold treatment facilities, including name, address and other information, to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry .

 

II. Recorder Type

China Customs or its authorized personnel must ensure that the probe and temperature logger meet the following conditions:

1. Suitable for this purpose. The probe temperature should be between -3.0°C and +3.0°C, accurate to ±0.15°C ;

(2) Able to accommodate the required number of probes;

(3) Ability to record and store processing data;

(4) Under the supervision of China Customs or its authorized officials, it is able to record the temperature of all probes at least once per hour and achieve the required accuracy of the probe temperature;

(5) Ability to print out the results identifying each probe, time and temperature and indicating the recorder model and container number.

2. Able to accommodate the required number of probes ;

3. Ability to record and store processing data until such time as the data can be inspected by China Customs or its authorized personnel;

4. Ability to record all probes at least once per hour and achieve the same accuracy required for the probes;

5. Ability to print out identification number for each probe, time and temperature, and storage facility.

 

III. Temperature probe calibration

Calibration must be carried out in a mixture of crushed ice and distilled water using a standard thermometer approved by China Customs or its authorized personnel :

(1) Any probe that reads outside of 0°C ± 0.3°C must be replaced with another probe that meets this standard;

(2) Upon completion of the processing, China Customs or its authorized personnel shall verify the calibration value of the fruit temperature probe using the calibration method mentioned above.

 

IV. Place the temperature probe under the supervision of China Customs or authorized personnel of China Customs

1. Palletized fruit must be placed in a cold storage room under the supervision of Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel. Exporters may also pre-cool the fruit themselves.

2. Use at least two probes (one at the air outlet and one at the air return) to measure the room temperature. At least the following four probes should be installed to measure the temperature of fresh fruit :

( 1 ) A center for the goods located in the middle of the cold treatment room;

( 2 ) A corner located in the middle of the cold treatment room on the top floor of the cargo;

( 3) One located in the middle of the cargo near the cold air outlet;

( 4 ) One located in a corner on the top floor of the cargo compartment near the cold air outlet.

3. The insertion of the probe and its connection to the recorder should be completed under the supervision and guidance of authorized personnel of China Customs .

4. The recorder can be started at any time, but the processing time will not start until all fruit temperature probes have reached the specified temperature.

5. When only the minimum number of probes is used, if any probe fails for more than 4 consecutive hours, the process will be invalid and must be restarted.

 

V. Step-by-step review of processing results

1. If the treatment record indicates that all treatment parameters have been met, Chinese Customs officers will authorize the termination of treatment. If the probe has been calibrated in accordance with Article 3 , the treatment is deemed to have been successfully completed.

2. The probes should be calibrated before the fruit is removed from the processing room .

 

VI. Confirmation of processing results

1. After the prescribed treatment time has been completed, the probe must be recalibrated in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 3 and calibration records must be retained for review by an officer of the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry .

2. If the probe calibration reading after treatment is completed is higher than the initial calibration reading, the recorded reading of the probe (or probes) should be adjusted accordingly. If the adjusted results indicate that the treatment does not meet the specified treatment requirements, the treatment will be deemed invalid. Chinese customs officers and the exporter will determine whether to re-treat the batch of fruit.

3. The printout of the cold treatment temperature record must contain statistical data that matches the treatment parameters to prove that the cold treatment has been completed.

4. China Customs or its authorized personnel shall endorse the above cold treatment temperature record after confirming that the treatment is successful and provide it to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for review as required.

5. If the treatment fails to achieve the required cold treatment requirements, the recorder can be reconnected and the treatment can be continued if one of the following conditions is met:

( 1 ) China Customs or its authorized personnel confirms that the processing conditions required by this Protocol are still met, or

( 2 ) The time interval between stopping and restarting is within 24 hours.

( 3 ) In both cases, data collection can continue from the time the recorder is reconnected.

 

VII. Loading into container

1. Before loading , containers must be inspected by Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel to ensure that they are free of harmful organisms, and the entrances must be shielded to prevent pests from entering.

2. Fruits must be packed in a building with insect-proof measures, or the cold storage room exit and container entrance must be connected with insect-proof materials.

 

VIII. Sealing of Containers

1. Containers loaded with fruit must be sealed with coded seals by authorized personnel of the Chinese Customs . The seal number must be indicated on the phytosanitary certificate.

2. The seal can only be opened at an Australian port of entry by an officer from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry .

 

IX. Storage of Fruits Not Immediately Packed

If the processed fruits are not immediately packed, they may be temporarily stored under the supervision of Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel.

1. If the fruit is stored in a cold storage room, the door of the cold storage room must be closed;

2. If the fruit needs to be transferred to another storage room, the transfer method must be approved by China Customs , and no other fruit may be stored in the storage room;

3. Fruits must be packed in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 under the supervision of Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel.

 

X. Plant Quarantine Certificate

1. The temperature, duration, and name or registration number of the cold treatment facility before export must be stated in the treatment section of the phytosanitary certificate.

2. When fruits enter Australian ports, they must provide the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry with a plant quarantine certificate and a cold treatment results report ( including temperature records and temperature data summaries signed by Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel , as well as fruit temperature probe calibration records ).

 

Cold treatment operation procedures during transportation

 

I. Container Type

The container must be a self-refrigerated (integrated) transport container with refrigeration equipment capable of reaching and maintaining the required temperature.

 

II. Recorder Type

China Customs or its authorized personnel shall ensure that an appropriate combination of temperature probes and temperature recorders is used:

1. The probe temperature should be between -3.0 °C and +3.0 °C , accurate to +0.15 ° C ;

2. There are sufficient number of probes ;

3. Ability to record and store processing data ;

4. Ability to record all probe temperatures at least once per hour and achieve the required accuracy for probe temperatures;

5. The printed temperature record must record the corresponding time and temperature for each probe and indicate the recorder model and container number.

 

III. Temperature correction

1. Calibration must be carried out in a mixture of crushed ice and distilled water using a standard thermometer approved by China Customs or authorized personnel of China Customs .

2. Any probe that reads outside of 0°C ± 0.3°C must be replaced.

3. A "Fruit Temperature Probe Calibration Record" signed and confirmed by China Customs or its authorized personnel must be issued for each container , and the original copy must be attached to the plant quarantine certificate accompanying the goods.

4. When the fruit arrives at the port of entry, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will conduct a calibration check on the fruit temperature probe.

 

IV. Temperature probe installation

1. The packaged fruits must be loaded into transport containers under the supervision of Chinese Customs or its authorized personnel. The packaging boxes should be stacked loosely to ensure sufficient airflow.

2. Each container must be equipped with at least three fruit temperature probes and two space temperature probes. The specific locations are as follows:

( 1 ) No. 1 fruit temperature probe must be installed in the center of the top layer of the first row of cargo in the container;

( 2 ) The No. 2 fruit temperature probe is placed at the center of the container door, 1.5 meters (40-foot container) or 1 meter (20-foot container), and at half the height of the loaded cargo;

( 3 ) The No. 3 fruit temperature probe is placed on the left side of the container door, 1.5 meters (40-foot container) or 1 meter (20-foot container), and at half the height of the loaded cargo;

( 4 ) Two space temperature probes must be installed at the air inlet and return air outlet of the container respectively;

3. All probes must be installed under the supervision and guidance of authorized personnel of China Customs .

4. Before packing, the fruit must be stored in a cold room (pre-cooled) until the fruit flesh temperature reaches 4 ° C or below.

 

V. Container Sealing

1. The container loaded with fruits is sealed with a coded seal by authorized personnel of China Customs .

2. The seal can only be opened at an Australian port of entry by an Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry officer.

 

VI. Temperature Recording and Confirmation

1. Cold treatment during transport can be initiated onshore and completed during the voyage between China and the first port of call in Australia or after arrival .

2. Recording can be started at any time, but processing time will only begin when all fruit temperature probes have reached the specified temperature.

3. Shipping companies should download the cold treatment temperature records and submit them to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at the port of entry .

4. Some sea voyages may allow cold treatment to be completed en route before the vessel reaches an Australian port, allowing processing records to be downloaded en route and transmitted to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for review. Therefore, whether fruit should be "conditioned" (i.e. gradually increased in temperature during transport) before arriving in Australia is a commercial decision.

5. The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry reviews whether the cold treatment records comply with the relevant treatment requirements and determines whether the cold treatment is effective based on the probe calibration results.

 

VII. Plant Quarantine Certificate

1. The cold treatment temperature, treatment time, container number and seal number must be stated in the phytosanitary certificate.

2. When fruits enter the country, they must provide the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry with a plant quarantine certificate, cold treatment report, and fruit temperature probe calibration record.

 

Targeting Carposina sasakii's systematic measures

 

1. Orchard Management and Monitoring

Growers are required to implement orchard control measures such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approved by China Customs and combined with field hygiene and appropriate pesticide application to control Carposina sasakii .

Under the supervision of Chinese customs , growers must regularly inspect Carposina Sasakii conducts monitoring surveys to verify the effectiveness of measures and is required to maintain the results using a standard reporting format. These results will be provided to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry upon request .

Carposina must be carried out using specific traps sasakii orchard monitoring and timely implementation of prevention and control measures. As an important part of orchard prevention and control and monitoring, targeting Carposina Dormancy or delayed dormancy sprays for sasakii should be applied before the first bloom and before the leaves reach the one-inch growth stage.

2. Fruit section examination

For each shipment, 600 fruits are randomly selected for visual inspection and 60 fruits are cut open from these 600 fruits to verify that they are free of Carposina sasakii larvae, the fruits to be opened can be selected from the “eliminated” fruits.

Carposina is detected during the fruit cutting process sasakii larvae, the consignment must not be exported to Australia until remedial action is taken.