Northwest Horticultural Council

Country Alerts

Thailand Implements New Rules to Test Imported Fresh Produce For Pesticide Residues

May 28, 2020

Current Situation: The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new guidelines to test imported fresh produce for pesticide residues (for USDA report go here).  The measures will be strictly implemented on June 15, 2020. The Thai FDA classifies imported produce based on their risk levels into three classifications: Very High Risk; High Risk; and Low Risk.

The Thai FDA considers cherries to be “High-Risk” *; there is a focus on residues of fenpropathrin (danitol) due to prior non-compliance findings. If the shipment is found to be noncompliant with the regulation, the Thai FDA will reject the shipment; and place the importer, exporter, and type of product (cherry) combination on a closely monitored list for three consecutive shipments.

• Exporter/importer combinations on the closely monitored list will have cherry shipments held and tested, using a default value of 0.01ppm for fenpropathrin.

Apples and pears are classified as Low Risk.

Background:

• Thai FDA announced the new maximum residue level (MRL) policy on May 20, 2020.
• A Thai FDA officer at the port of entry will take a sample from every shipment in the High-Risk group (cherries) to be tested at a government laboratory. The Thai FDA will be responsible for the lab testing expense.
• A noncompliance sample will place the exporter/importer combination on the closely monitored list.
• If the three consecutive shipments are compliant with the regulation, then the product from the specific importer/exporter will be removed from the close monitoring list. Otherwise, the exporter name and specific product type will be moved up to the “Very High Risk” group.
• Shipments received by any exporter identified as “Very High Risk,” faces greater scrutiny for testing of those product, g., fenpropathrin residues:
  • The importers are responsible for the lab testing expense.
  • The shipment will be detained while waiting for the test results.
  • The Thai FDA will consider whether the shipment must be kept at the port or can be moved to the importers’ warehouse with the importer’s signed letter of intent.
  • If the result is negative, the shipment will be released. Otherwise, the shipment will not be allowed to enter the country.
• If the importer does not want the shipment to be tested in Thailand, a Certificate of Analysis (COA) issued by a government laboratory of the exporting country, a government assigned lab, or a private laboratory complying with ISO/IEC 17025 can be used.
  • A COA is required for 134 pesticide substances for any noncompliant exporter with the specific products listed in the aforementioned USDA report.

As of May 8, 2020, there were U.S. apple exporters on the list for noncompliant shipments with high MRLs for profenofos and endosulfan.

*High-Risk fresh fruits are cherries, oranges, strawberry, grapes, and dragon fruit.

Contact: For more information contact David Epstein, Vice President for Scientific Affairs, or Fred Scarlett, Vice President for Export Programs  at (509) 453-3193.

Northwest Horticultural Council

Country Alerts

Canada Consumer Prepackaged Produce – New Labeling Requirements for Fruit

March 24, 2020

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) made a final decision regarding the specifics of lot code options required on consumer prepackaged produce to comply with Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).  The compliance date is January 15, 2020.  (Note: CFIA has granted an extension until January 15, 2021, for the industry to use up existing packaging material.)

The following outlines the decision of CFIA:

• Lot Code:  The term “lot code” is not specifically defined in the Safe Food for Canadians Act nor in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). In general terms, “lot code” when used in Part 5 – Traceability of the SFCR refers to a code that can be used to identify a lot that was manufactured, prepared, produced, stored, graded, packaged or labeled, under the same conditions. A lot code can be numeric, alphabetic or alphanumeric. Examples of lot code include: production date, best before date, establishment number, or SFCR license number. In addition, for fresh fruits or vegetables, the lot code may also be the harvest date, grower identification number, growing region or any other code that may be used for traceability purposes.
• Growing Region can be province/state or another sub-national division within a country, or any other commonly accepted region of production as determined by industry and/or government.
• On January 15, 2020, consumer prepackaged food will need a label which includes the following information:
  • The common name
  • The name and principal place of business of the person by or for whom the food was manufactured, prepared, produced, stored, packaged or labeled
  • The lot code (lot code guidance is available in the SFCR: Glossary of key terms)
• The current guidance document, Regulatory requirements: Traceability will be revised to include examples of Growing Region although the list will not be exhaustive.

For additional information about CFIA consumer prepackaging requirements for produce, please see the Northwest Horticultural Council Export Manual here.

Contact: For more information contact the Northwest Horticultural Council at (509) 453-3193.

Northwest Horticultural Council

Country Alerts

Thailand Implements New Import Requirements for Apples, Pears, and Cherries

October 30, 2019

Current Situation: Thailand’s Department of Agriculture (DOA) will implement new trade protocols for apples, pears, and cherries effective November 7, 2019.  The new protocols require, in part, import permits, carton/pallet marks, and fruit packed “free from” leaves.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and DOA have assured the Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC) that fruit exports will continue through the transition to the new protocol.   Shippers using the Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance & Tracking (PCIT) system are advised to consult the Phytosanitary Export Database (PExD) for the new phytosanitary regulations. PExD was updated October 30, 2019, with the new export requirements.

Background: In 2008, the Government of Thailand approved legislation that required DOA to conduct a pest risk analysis (PRA) for fruit imports from all countries; and, that new, standardized protocols be adopted.  In 2018, the pest risk analysis process for the United States (U.S.) was conducted and new protocols negotiated.

The only requirement to export apples, pears, and cherries to Thailand under DOA’s old protocol was to be accompanied by a Federal Phytosanitary Certificate.  The following are some of the more noteworthy requirements* to be enacted:

• An import permit is required
• Registration of orchards (orchard lists to be maintained by the packing facility)
• Registration of packing facilities (packing facility lists to be maintained by the states departments of agriculture)
• Growers must implement good agricultural practices and maintain pesticide treatment activities
• “Fruit must be packed…free from soil, sand and contaminating plant material, e.g. leaves, twigs, plant debris or other potential carriers of quarantine pests.” (emphasis added)
• Carton marks “EXPORT TO THAILAND” must appear on each carton; or, if palletized, “EXPORT TO THAILAND” must appear on all four sides of the pallet.
• New phytosanitary certificate Additional Declarations are required
• The shipping container must be sealed and the seal number must appear on either the phytosanitary certificate or shipping documents.  The phytosanitary certificate number is required to appear on the shipping documents.
• If any live or dead stage(s) of a quarantine fruit fly (tropical) is found, the infested consignment must be either re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense.  DOA shall immediately suspend importation and notify the NPPO of the interception. (emphasis added to highlight the point that Pacific Northwest apple, pear, and cherry exports could be suspended for a quarantine fruit fly interception from California.)

*Growers and packers might be required by state departments of agriculture to attest to protocol compliance when requesting phytosanitary certification.

Contact: For more information contact the Northwest Horticultural Council at (509) 453-3193.

Northwest Horticultural Council

Country Alerts

European Union (EU) Implements New Additional Declarations for Use on Phytosanitary Certificates

September 16, 2019

Current Situation: The EU implemented phytosanitary Directive 2019/523/EC on September 1.  This new Directive names specific pests and requires one of several protective measures to be documented on the Federal Phytosanitary Certificate by new Additional Declarations (AD).

Pacific Northwest apples, pears and cherries remain eligible for export to the EU.  However due to the complexity of navigating, and selecting, the appropriate new ADs required to document applicable protective measures within the Phytosanitary Certificate Issuance and Tracking System (PCIT), the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has submitted a request to the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for a guidance document to assist industry when drafting phytosanitary certificates that will ensure consistency across the industry.  For additional information, contact the local state department of agriculture representative.

Background: Directive 2019/523/EC declared that protective measures must be taken against the introduction of specific quarantine pests found in the United States (see below).  Exporting countries were required to notify the EU which option would be taken to protect the EU: country freedom, pest-free areas, pest-proof structures, or treatments.  The European Commission (EC) confirmed to APHIS that a systems approach qualifies as a treatment option under the new regulation.  The Northwest Horticultural Council (NHC) worked with APHIS to identify pest-free areas, treatments currently in use, and general horticultural and packing facility practices that could be included as part of a systems approach for the individual fruits of the Pacific Northwest.  The systems approaches were presented as treatments by APHIS and accepted by the EC prior to the September 1 implementation date.

A second EU Directive is scheduled to be implemented on December 14.  The second Directive will replace the comprehensive EU Plant Health Law Directive 2000/29/EC; and will require all ADs to be written in “plain language”, which means the ADs will change again in three months.  (The current AD system uses EU Directive Annex points.)

Pests of concerns for cherry, apple, and pear that occur in the production areas of the Pacific Northwest:

Cherry (Prunus)

• Cherry fruit worm (Grapholita packardi)
• Non-European Tephritidae, which includes the following:
  • Black-bodied cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis fausta
  • Western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens
  • Apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella

Apple (Malus)

• Apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella)
• Lesser apple worm (Grapholita prunivora / Enarmonia prunivora)
• Apple curculio (Tachypterellus quadrigibbus)
• Cherry fruitworm (Grapholita packardi)

Pear (Pyrus)

• Apple curculio (Tachypterellus quadrigibbus)
• Cherry fruitworm (Grapholita packardi)

Contact: If you have any questions, please contact Paul McCarthy or Fred Scarlett at (509) 453-3193.

Northwest Horticultural Council

U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

On September 30, 2018, Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America reached an agreement to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  The new agreement, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), will enter into effect only after legislative approval in each country and at some future, yet to be determined, implementation date.

The Northwest Horticultural Council supports ratification by Congress of the USMCA. The trade agreement achieves the NHC’s principle negotiating objectives and provides a solid foundation from which Pacific Northwest tree fruit growers, packers, and shippers will continue their positive and overwhelmingly beneficial trading relationship with customers in these critically important countries.  

The text of the agreement may be found here.  A fact sheet describing the USMCA as it pertains to agriculture may be found here.