FAQ from the fruit and vegetable industry webinar

The purpose of ICA-61 is to describe the requirements that apply to pack-house washing, inspection and secure consignment of tomato-potato psyllid carrier produce with leaves, calyx or other attached green material under an Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) arrangement.

Carrier plants and plant products are all those plants and plant products that do not belong to the Solanaceae and Convolvulaceae families. These host plant families include tomato, potato, capsicum, chilli, eggplant and capsicum, as well as ornamental plants, such as petunias and ornamental chilli.

You will need to check with the destination state or territory for their specific requirements and definition of what produce is classed as a “carrier”.

See the Biosecurity Update - TPP interstate quarantine requirement [PDF File - 229.2 KB]

Go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/tpp

Particular jurisdictions have differing requirements for carriers depending on how they are processed and packed and whether they do or do not have leaves. Stems may also be considered carriers, while some produce that have outer leaves removed will have lesser conditions compared to others.

Agriculture Victoria developed an information table that will increase the clarity around requirements for different states. This is available on Tomato potato psyllid information for businesses

However, it is also important to check with the destination state or territory for their specific entry requirements. Go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/tpp for links to jurisdictional information.

Yes, for Queensland; however, if they are prepared, stemmed, processed, graded, sorted or packed in a packing house – and free of other vegetative material – then they are exempt from TPP requirements.

Field-packed zucchini require accreditation under PS-60: Inspection of Carrier Produce for TPP.

Leeks are exempt from TPP requirements for NSW, NT and SA.

Qld requires accreditation under:

• ICA-61: Pack-House Washing and Inspection of TPP Carrier Produce for shed-packed or
• PS-58: Pre-Harvest Treatment and Post-Harvest Inspection of TPP Host Produce and Carrier Field Packed Leafy Vegetables for field-packed.

Tasmania requires leeks to be fumigated under ICA-04.

However, it is also important to check with the destination state or territory for their specific entry requirements. Go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/tpp for links to jurisdictional information.

ICA-61 is for carrier produce. Tomatoes host produce; therefore, ICA-61 cannot be used.

Queensland requires accreditation under ICA-04: Fumigation with Methyl Bromide, ICA-55: Irradiation or PS-58: Pre-Harvest Treatment and Post-Harvest Inspection of TPP Host Produce and Carrier Field packed Leafy Vegetables.

For host produce and host nursery stock please see the recording of the webinar held on Tuesday 2 December at 2pm to address these questions. Recordings of all webinars are available on Tomato potato psyllid information for businesses

Accreditations are based upon the type of produce being treated and include options for in-field treatment, packing shed treatment and/or inspection and whole consignment treatment (fumigation and irradiation). There are various treatment options included in some accreditations.

Growers and processors can use an accredited treatment provider, for example, fumigation or irradiation service provider, to access most sensitive jurisdictions. However, these end-point treatments may impact produce quality and shelf life.

It is based upon the packed-on date; however, it is possible that produce may be held up for verification if received after this date. Produce will need to be secured following packing and you will need to be able to provide evidence for the packing date.

Yes, the final touch point (e.g. packhouse) needs accreditation.

The accreditations generally require the produce to be secured from reinfestation after packing. See the ICA-61 procedure for packing requirements. Pre-harvest treatment accreditations generally allow for treated material to be certified by an accredited grower and sent to an accredited packer for final certification

There are split consignment and repacking ICA procedures that allow splitting of certified material. Business will not be able to buy uncertified produce off the floor for supply to a regulated market.

ICA-04: Fumigation with Methyl Bromide and ICA-55: Irradiation allow for produce to be treated after the load has been compiled. However, these end-point treatments may impact produce quality and shelf life

Options exist for pre-harvest treatment or treatment during packing. Pre-harvest treatment accreditations generally allow for treated material to be certified by an accredited grower and sent to an accredited packer for final certification. Growers can also supply bulk produce for treatment and certification by the packer.

One certificate per consignment if treated the same way; multiple products allowed.

Material will need to meet the import requirements for all receiving jurisdictions. Please check with the receiving state to determine their requirements.

These products are still considered as carrier by some jurisdictions. The ICA-61 procedure is being amended to incorporate industry practices to reduce regulatory burden on growers and packers.

Under an accreditation, TPP is only detected by visual inspection and then follow up by lab diagnostics. You can also undertake your own trapping regime to manage TPP populations on your property.

If you suspect TPP may be present on your property, notify Agriculture Victoria by any of these means:

• via the website at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/reportpestsonline
• emailing to plant.protection@agriculture.vic.gov.au
• calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

The processor can be accredited as a packhouse to meet TPP requirements.

Host produce can be pre-harvest treated under PS-58: Pre-Harvest Treatment and Post-Harvest Inspection of TPP Host Produce and Carrier Field packed Leafy Vegetables for some states, otherwise end-point treatments are also available under ICA-04: Fumigation with Methyl Bromide and ICA-55: Irradiation allow. However, these end-point treatments may impact produce quality and shelf life.

For host produce and host nursery stock, please see the recording of the webinar held on Tuesday 2 December at 2 pm to address these questions. Recordings of all webinars are available on Tomato potato psyllid information for businesses

There are field treatments available for some produce and plants. The available arrangements for in field treatments are ‘PS-58:Pre-Harvest Treatment and Post-Harvest Inspection of Tomato-Potato Psyllid Host and Carrier Produce’ and ‘ICA-62: Treatment and Inspection of Carrier Nursery Stock for Tomato-Potato Psyllid’. The accreditations provide the type of chemicals that can be used for treatment for TPP.

Accredited businesses will be responsible for implementing the requirements of their accreditation procedure. Agriculture Victoria will audit these accreditations for compliance.

Depending on the type of produce and the intended destination, washing, inspection or exemption may apply. Property freedom may also be an option for some businesses when these arrangements are available.

Yes, it will be available at on the Agriculture Victoria website.

You can download a monitoring guide here: https://www.horticulture.com.au/globalassets/hort-innovation/resource-assets/mt16009-tomato-potato-psyllid-pocket-guide.pdf

Victoria has lost freedom for TPP; therefore, the movement conditions are permanent for as long as other states and territories have area freedom for the pest. There is no accepted minimum number of TPP.

There is no possibility for regaining freedom in Victoria. However, property freedom protocols are being developed. These will rely on the business complying with the property freedom TPP monitoring accreditation.

We are not undertaking an eradication response for TPP in Victoria. It has been deemed that it is not economically and technically feasible to regain freedom from the pest.

Product must be certified before leaving Victoria; certification accompanies consignment to DCs/markets.

There are split consignment and repacking ICA procedures that allow splitting of certified material. Business will not be able to buy uncertified produce off the floor for supply to a regulated market.

ICA-04: Fumigation with Methyl Bromide and ICA-55: Irradiation allow for produce to be treated after the load has been compiled. However, these end-point treatments may impact produce quality and shelf life.

Self-certification is provided through an accreditation that is routinely audited by Agriculture Victoria. Follow-up audits will occur, but initial audit timelines are extended due to volume.

The online Authorised Inspection Person training and accreditation replaces an initial audit of the business by Agriculture Victoria. In the coming months Agriculture Victoria will also undertake audits to ensure compliance with the procedure. Standard process from that point forward will be for businesses to have an annual audit and as required biannual audits (6-monthly audit) conducted by Agriculture Victoria.

Most fees are waived until June 2026. The purchase of PHAC books remains a cost ($23.45 per 100 certificates) for businesses.

Through the drought relief package, accreditation fees are reduced or waved for this year and until June 2026.

PS-60 has been released – this is a procedure for inspection and secure packaging of carrier produce.

Agriculture Victoria is developing arrangements as quickly as possible and releasing them as they are finalised. Most arrangements were available for 8 December when import requirements were implemented for receiving jurisdictions. Updates to arrangements and finalisation of outstanding arrangements will continue post 8 December, with timing reliant on interstate agreement and available information.

Agriculture Victoria is expediating application processing, but note that it can still take up to five days and is reliant on applying businesses providing correct information and completing the eLearning.

Businesses are encouraged to apply for a relevant accreditations as soon as possible. To obtain an application form contact the Biosecurity Services Centre at: biosecurityservicescentre@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria will work with interstate jurisdictions to streamline import requirements and arrangements in the medium-term. This may include the consolidation of arrangements.

The current dosage for methyl bromide treatment is accepted as a quarantine treatment for TPP.

PS-61 has now been accepted by NSW, QLD and SA.

There are split consignment and repacking ICA procedures that allow splitting of certified material. Business will not be able to buy uncertified produce off the floor for supply to a regulated market.

ICA-04: Fumigation with Methyl Bromide and ICA-55: Irradiation allow for produce to be treated after the load has been compiled. However, these end-point treatments may impact produce quality and shelf life.

Options also exist for pre-harvest treatment or treatment during packing. Pre-harvest treatment accreditations generally allow for treated material to be certified by an accredited grower and sent to an accredited packer for final certification. Growers can also supply bulk produce for treatment and certification by the packer.