Domestic fresh jujubes open the Australian market, exports from northern non-epidemic areas do not require cold treatment.
During the mid-July annual meeting between the Chinese and Australian prime ministers, the two sides signed protocols for the export of Australian apples to China and Chinese fresh dates to Australia. On August 1, the General Administration of Customs issued a notice regarding the phytosanitary requirements for the export of Chinese fresh dates to Australia.
The notice requires that Australian orchards, packaging plants, and quarantine treatment facilities (if applicable) should be registered with the Chinese side, and the Chinese side should provide the Australian side with a registration list before the export season begins. Quarantine pests subject to risk management measures include Cecidophyopsis ribis, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera tryoni, Bactrocera zonata, Bactrocera cucurbitae, and Carposina sasakii, with the restricted pest being Frankliniella occidentalis.
The Australian side recognizes and approves the areas north of 33 degrees north latitude in China as non-pest areas for Bactrocera tryoni, Bactrocera dorsalis, and Bactrocera cucurbitae. Fresh dates from areas where fruit fly outbreaks have occurred must suspend export to Australia, or undergo quarantine treatment approved by the Australian side.
Fresh dates from fruit fly-affected areas or suspended areas should undergo pre-export/in-transit cold treatment. The in-transit cold treatment of fresh dates can begin before leaving the Chinese port and must be completed during or after arrival at the first port of call in Australia from China. The cold treatment conditions are: fruit pulp temperature of 1.11°C or below for 14 days or more; or fruit pulp temperature of 1.67°C or below for 16 days or more; or fruit pulp temperature of 2.22°C or below for 18 days or more.
Areas in China's Xinjiang province outside of Turpan are recognized by the Australian side as non-pest areas for Bactrocera zonata, and fresh dates from areas where fruit fly outbreaks have occurred must suspend export to Australia.
During the processing and packaging, fresh dates should be sorted, classified, and graded to ensure they are free from insects, mites, rotten fruit, branches, leaves, roots, and soil. Defective fruits should be removed during the processing, and post-harvest fungicides should be used.
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