2 June 2026
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise the apple and pear industry that applications are now open for the accreditation of farms, packhouses and cold stores, and the registration of treatment facilities to export apples and pears to protocol markets for the 2026-2027 season.
Summary of changes and key points
Applications are now open for farms, packhouses and cold stores intending to export:
- apples to Canada, China, Thailand, Japan (from Tasmania only) and Taiwan, and
- pears to Thailand.
Farm and packhouse managers can submit their applications by one of the two options below by 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 26 June 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- The Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) online export registration system can now take both Tasmania and mainland applications.
- farm and packhouse managers not previously registered must contact Jenny@APAL.org.au to create an account in the APAL online export registration system.
- all farm and packhouse managers previously registered using the APAL online export registration system can log in to their existing account.
- The Fruit Growers Tasmania (FGT) export registration form.
Note: All information in the application including ABN, contact details, accredited property maps and addresses must be complete and correct, or the application may not be accepted.
Crop monitors must complete the relevant training and assessment modules by 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 28 August 2026 to be eligible to conduct crop monitoring.
Accredited property packhouses for apples and pears can apply for an additional export function to operate under the Packhouse Grower Supplier Model (PGSM). Details for how to apply for the PGSM can be found under the Packhouse grower supplier model (PGSM) - Application process section.
Onshore cold treatment facilities who want to apply for China must apply through the Export Service.
Treatment facilities not already registered who want to apply for the registered function of methyl bromide fumigation of apples for export to Japan must contact the Horticulture Export Program immediately.
Note: Treatment facilities for apples to Japan must be located in Tasmania.
Background
Countries with protocol markets have specific requirements for importing Australian produce.
The protocols for exporting apples and pears to Canada, China, Japan (for Tasmania only), Taiwan and Thailand mandate that farms, packhouses, cold stores (for China only) and treatment facilities are accredited or registered with the department prior to export.
For specific market requirements, refer to the relevant protocols and workplans in the 'Documents' section of the Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor). To access these documents, you must register as a Micor Plants user.
Accredited property responsibilities – farms, packhouses and cold stores
Farms, packhouses and cold stores must apply for accreditation annually (unless otherwise advised).
Growers may divide their farm into blocks. Each block must be clearly identified on the application form and on the farm map by its physical address or geographic co-ordinates. A block must be a contiguous unit and not be separated by structures such as a building, public road or body of water.
Note: For further information, refer to the Exports process instruction: Management of horticulture export accredited properties in the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Audit
Farms, packhouses and cold stores must be available for audits by the department to ensure compliance with the relevant protocols, workplans and the Plant Export Operations Manual. Some entities may be audited by the importing country.
All accredited property applications will undergo a debt check. Properties with overdue debt owing will be notified and given 14 business days to pay the relevant debt or enter a payment arrangement. If the debt is not paid, the accredited property application may be refused.
Audits will occur either pre-season and/or in-season (during harvest). Any farm or packhouse that was not accredited during the 2025-2026 season will be audited pre-season for 2026-2027.
Accreditation and/or continuation of accreditation will be reliant on audit outcomes.
Note: We may use a combination of announced and unannounced audits as part of our assurance process.
Applicants will be advised of the audit outcome, and accreditation number/s will be provided to farms and packhouses by the department.
The department can only accredit an entity for export if all protocol requirements are met.
Requirements for accredited properties, including management instructions, audit instructions and performance standards can be found on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Packhouses exporting fruit to Thailand must comply with Thailand's hygiene and quality requirements for packhouses. See the Thailand Food and Drug Administration requirements for packhouses in the 'Documents' section of Micor for further information.
Farms and packhouses wishing to withdraw from the accreditation process after the closing date (26 June 2026) will need to email Protocol and Response and provide a reason for withdrawal.
Crop monitor responsibilities
Online crop monitor training for apples and pears must be completed annually through our online learning portal – Learnhub. The training consists of a core module and an apple and pear pests module.
Crop monitors must register to conduct crop monitor training by completing and submitting the Crop Monitor Training Request Form, including those who have completed training in previous years.
Crop monitors must complete the training and pass the assessments for both modules by 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 28 August 2026.
Only crop monitors who have completed the online training and passed the assessment for both the core and apples/pear modules are eligible to conduct crop monitoring for protocol markets.
Crop monitors will be audited for compliance at the relevant accredited property audit.
Packhouse grower supplier model (PGSM)
The PGSM is a voluntary, alternative assurance model and auditing program for accredited property packhouses and farms.
Application process
To be eligible for the model, the packhouse must have been accredited in the previous export season (2025-26).
Applications can be submitted through the Cherry Growers Australia online registration system at the time of application, or to the Audit and Assurance Branch using the Application for accreditation under the packhouse grower supplier model by 5:00 pm (AEST) Friday 26 June 2026.
All supporting documentation must be provided with the application.
Supporting material
Potential applicants should familiarise themselves with the policy and instructional material available on the Plant Export Operations Manual.
Treatment facility responsibilities
Treatment facilities must be registered establishments and approved for the specific country, commodity and treatment combination for protocol markets.
Onshore cold treatment applications for China and Thailand must be submitted through the Export Service to ensure they are registered with the Chinese system prior to the export season.
Note: Onshore cold treatment facilities must be approved by China and Thailand, in addition to approval by the department.
Treatment facilities not currently approved for methyl bromide fumigation of apples for export to Japan who wish to add this treatment to their registered establishment must contact the Horticulture Export Program immediately.
Contact information
Please direct any queries regarding the Apple and Pear Australia Ltd online export registration system to:
Jenny Van de Meeberg
Apple & Pear Australia Ltd. (APAL)
Email: Jenny@APAL.org.au
Phone: 0410 536 269
Please direct any queries regarding the Fruit Growers Tasmania Inc. registration system to:
Kate Dickinson
Fruit Growers Tasmania Inc. (FGT)
Email: kate@fruitgrowerstas.org.au
Phone: 0459 039 664
If you have any questions regarding this IAN, please email the Horticulture Export Program.
Jemma Martin
Assistant Secretary
Plant Exports Branch