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California Orange Protocol for Export to Korea

I. Subject fruits

Oranges produced in California for exports to the Republic of Korea are subject to this Protocol. However, the requirements of a latency testing and on-site monitoring will be limited to the oranges produced in Tulare and Fresno Counties.

II. Cultural Practices

Growers will use irrigation equipment and/or management practices that minimize canopy wetness.

III. Preharvest Fungicides

A zinc-copper-lime spray will be used. Spray should be applied prior to fall rains in October/November. A minimum of 0.33 to 1 lb. of hydrated lime per 1 lb. of copper fungicide (any basic copper) will be used to prevent copper injury and to increase persistence.

A second application of zinc-copper-lime must be applied between 60 and 90 days following the first treatment for those varieties that will be harvested after February. Growers will be instructed as to the timing of the second application which will be based on climatic conditions (temperature and rainfall) conducive to the development of S. citri.

A third application of zinc-copper-lime must be applied between 60 and 90 days following the second treatment, if climatic conditions conducive to the development of S. citri are observed after the second treatment. Growers will be instructed as to the need and timing of a third application.

IV. Latency testing

Only symptomatic fruit will be submitted.

Fruit harvested from a grower lot can be shipped within 45 days from the lab result date.

The sample size for navel oranges will be 20 fruit taken from each grower lot, except for navel oranges submitted for testing after February 7, when 30 fruits will be taken. The sample will be representative of the fruit to be shipped to Korea.

The sample size for Valencia oranges will be 10 fruits taken from each grower lot. This sample will be representative of the fruit to be shipped to Korea.

An incubation procedure of up to 7 days using isolated lesions will be used in conducting the tests.

During the on-site monitoring visit, NPQS inspectors may request to see the latency testing protocol.

APHIS will provide NPQS a weekly report of grower lots testing positive for S. citri.

At the conclusion of the orange season, APHIS will provide NPQS with the results of all grower lots tested.

V. Re-participation

In order to be eligible to export fruit to Korea, each grower lot of oranges produced in Tulare and Fresno Counties and excluded for export to Korea in the previous season after testing positive for S. citri must be subjected to an initial latency test with a sample size of double the normal rate.

Thereafter, the latency testing protocol described in IV above will apply to these grower lots.

If S. citri is detected in the same grower lot for 3 consecutive seasons, this grower lot will be excluded from further exports to Korea for 3 years. NPQS and APHIS will consult on re-participation of the grower lot, prior to it becoming eligible again to be exported to Korea.

VI. Packing House

All packing houses exporting fruit to Korea will be registered with APHIS.

The packing houses will be responsible for marking on one side of each carton with the specific grower lot number(s) using KOR (prefix), and the name of packing house.

The packing houses will be responsible for maintaining a list of growers and grower lot numbers packed at the facility. This information should be made available upon request by APHIS and NPQS inspectors.

The packing houses will be responsible for assembling a pallet with a clearly marked representative sample from each grower lot that is contained in the shipment and listed on the phytosanitary certificate.

This “sample pallet” will be located near the doors of the container to facilitate location by NPQS officials upon arrival in Korea.

No more than 7 grower lots per container will be accepted in Korea by NPQS.

Each facility packing California oranges for export to Korea must have at least two technicians trained in identifying the symptoms of S. citri. Training will be conducted by County, State, Federal or University specialists. The technician(s) must be present during the packing process to pre-screen fruit for symptoms of S. citri

Should S. citri be detected in the packing house, the involved grower lot will be ineligible for certification to Korea for the remainder of the season.

VII. On-site Monitoring by NPQS

NPQS will conduct on-site monitoring of the orange export program for Korea in Tulare and Fresno counties to ensure compliance with the protocol by dispatching the following number of inspectors(s) for the specified durations.

Navel season: 4 inspectors for 4 weeks.
Valencia season: 1 inspector for 3 weeks.

During the monitoring visits, the inspectors may visit groves, observe packing house operations, and observe phytosanitary inspections.

Also, NPQS inspectors may monitor sampling and laboratory activities as relates to latency testing.

The U.S. will cover all travel expenses for the NPQS inspectors in accordance with the Korean regulations for NPQS TDY officers in foreign countries.

VIII. Phytosanitary Inspection

Before any phytosanitary inspection is performed, regulatory officials must verify that the above program requirements have been met.

This includes verification that the copper spray(s) had been applied, and for citrus from Tulare and Fresno Counties, that the fruit from that grower lot had passed the latency tests.

Fruit will be inspected at the 2 percent level making sure that representative samples are taken from each grower lot making up the shipment.

Each phytosanitary certificate will list in the Distinguishing Marks block the name of the packing house, the county of origin and the specific grower lot number(s) in the shipment, which will be indicated on each carton.

Each phytosanitary certificate shall include the additional declaration.

“The fruit in the shipment meets all the program requirements for the export of California oranges to Korea and was inspected and found free from Septoria citri

The additional declaration for S. citri will no longer be included on phytosanitary certificates for fruit from other States.

IX. Port of Entry Inspections

NPQS will fumigate California oranges prior to, or after inspection, based on the request of the importer.

Only shipments of 7 or less grower lots per container will be inspected by NPQS. Shipments of more than 7 grower lots per container presented for inspection will be rejected by NPQS.

In the event of a discrepancy between the grower lot numbers listed on the phytosanitary certificate and the grower lot numbers contained in the shipment, NPQS will reject only those grower lots associated with the discrepancy.

Should S. citri be detected in a shipment, NPQS shall limit the regulatory action to all cartons bearing that identical grower lot number. This is with the understanding that the importer requesting the inspection applies to have the shipment inspected by grower lot.

Those grower lot numbers would be removed from the containers and excluded from further exports to Korea for the remainder of the season.

If the inspection unit identified by the importer is the shipment and S. citri is found, all fruit in the shipment will be remanded for re-export or destruction.

In the event of an interception of S. citri, NPQS will notify APHIS and provide APHIS with an electronic copy of the phytosanitary certificate along with the involved grower lot number to facilitate trace-back procedures enabling USDA/CDFA to conduct an investigation.

If a phytosanitary certificate is issued for a shipment containing a S. citri positive lot the day after official notification is received from NPQS, the entire shipment will be rejected.

If phytosanitary certificates have been issued on or before the day APHIS is notified of a S. citri positive grower lot, NPQS will reject only the involved grower lot(s) upon arrival in Korea.

NPQS will hold positive cultures and send them to APHIS if requested.

APHIS inspectors may visit Korea to observe inspection, isolation and the identification process used by NPQS.

X. Effective Dates of this Protocol

The mitigations of this protocol will be in effect for two years. At the end of the first year, both sides will have an opportunity to discuss and reconsider the protocol.