Annex

Container loading:

Fruit subject to in-transit cold disinfestation treatment must be pre-cooled to the required treatment temperature prior to loading into shipping containers. In-transit cold treatment is only permitted in self refrigerated (integral) shipping containers capable of the treatment for the entire duration of the trip. The NPPO is responsible for ensuring that containers used by exporters are of a suitable type, and have refrigerator equipment capable of achieving and holding the required temperatures.

Packed fruit must be loaded into shipping containers under the supervision of the NPPO. Containers should be packed in a manner which ensures that there is equal airflow under and around all pallets and loose stacked boxes.

Calibration of probes:

A “record of calibration of fruit probes” must be prepared for each container and signed and stamped by an officer of the NPPO. The original must be attached to the phytosanitary certificate which accompanies the consignment. Calibration of temperature recorder and probes prior to in-transit cold disinfestation beginning must be undertaken under the supervision of the NPPO.

The fruit pulp sensors must be calibrated and placed under the supervision of an officer authorised by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of the exporting country. The calibration and placement of the fruit pulp sensors must meet Australian requirements and USDA/PPQ Treatment Manual specifications. Probes should be accurate to ± 0.15°C in the range of -3.0°C to +3.0°C.

Note: Any probe which records more than plus or minus 0.6°C from 0°C must be replaced by one that meets this criterion. The Department of Agriculture may check the calibration of the fruit probes, on arrival of the container in Australian territory. If any probe shows a higher calibration reading at the completion of the treatment than at the initial calibration setting, the recordings from the probes will be adjusted accordingly. If the calibration reading is lower than the initial data then there is a chance that the temperature data adjusted accordingly may reveal that the nominated treatment schedule was not met. In this instance the treatment will be deemed to have failed.

Placement of probes:

Placement of temperature sensors must be under the direction and supervision of NPPO. Two fruit pulp probes must be placed in boxes diagonally opposite at the side walls approximately 1.5 metres from the ends of the load for 12 metre containers and approximately 1 metre from the ends of the load for 6 metre containers. The third fruit probe must be placed in a box in the centre of the container. All three probes must be placed half way up the stack. In addition, there must be two additional probes (located at the inlet and outlets) monitoring the air temperature within each container.

A minimum of three fruit pulp temperature sensors must be used for each container undergoing in-transit cold disinfestation treatment.

Container sealing:

Shipping containers must be sealed once loading of the fruit is completed. In-transit treatment containers must not be opened (i.e. they must remain seals intact) until the treatment has been completed and confirmed by the Department of Agriculture on arrival in Australian territory.

A numbered seal must be placed on the loaded container door by an authorised officer of the NPPO and the seal number noted on the phytosanitary certificate. The seal must only be removed in the presence of a biosecurity officer at the port of arrival in Australian territory.

Temperature recording and downloading:

Pulp temperature is to be recorded on an hourly basis to one decimal place throughout the treatment by using three fruit pulp sensor probes that have been appropriately positioned across the treatment lot to account for temperature variations as described above. Additional probes that measure fruit pulp temperature can be used to monitor cold treatment. Any data from the additional probes must also comply with the treatment requirements.

The shipping/transport company must download the electronic temperature logs from the container and forward to the department (treatments@agriculture.gov.au) for treatment assessment and approval prior to container clearance.

Note: Some sea voyages may allow the cold disinfestation treatment to be completed by the time the vessel arrives at a port en-route to Australian territory. It is permissible for treatment records to be downloaded en-route and sent to the Department of Agriculture, for verification. It is therefore a commercial decision whether the fruit should be “conditioned” (i.e. gradually raising the carriage temperature) prior to arrival in Australian territory.

Treatment verification:

The Department will verify that the cold disinfestation treatment (for in-transit treatments) has been completed successfully prior to arranging for an inspection and clearance of the container.

Containers must be maintained at the required appropriate temperature until the treatment assessment is completed, as turning off power prematurely may lead to discontinuation of treatment.

Any shipment unable to be verified by the department as having completed cold disinfestation due to missing or incomplete treatment data will be deemed to have failed.

Any shipments that haven’t completed in-transit cold treatment (due to insufficient duration or temperatures) will be given the option of continuation of cold treatment, recommencement (seals intact only) and completion within a 23 day period, or export or disposal. Failed shipments that cannot recommence and complete cold treatment seals intact without opening the container are subject to export or disposal.