California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Program Benefit
– Expedited Clearance in Australia
– Rapid Pest Identification
– Reduced Fumigations
– Options/Control
• Redirect
• Re-inspect
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Obligations
– The Work Plan is negotiated between USDA
and AQIS
– Rules, requirements to give AQIS
Confidence in sample, integrity of the load
– AQIS is demanding on
• Process
• Paperwork
• Sanitation
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Process
– Understand the Work Plan
– Have procedures in place to comply
– Have safeguards to maintain integrity of the load
• Paperwork
– Attention to detail
– Clean accurate NOIs
– NOIs and Phytos must match exactly on arrival
• Sanitation
– In the operation; fruit path
– In the inspection area
– Inspection area safe from external infestation
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
Build Confidence!
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• 2007 – 08 Volume
Total Volume - 12/31
Total Volume - EOY
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
124,788
310,058
222,123
477,925
400,681
929,674
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• 2007 – 08 Volume
Volume by Variety
Navels
727,420
Mandarins
77,167
Lemons
74,254
Clementines
26,272
Grapefruit
22,423
Blood Orange
1,274
Minneolas
576
Tangelos
288
929,674
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Program Expenses
- AQIS expenses are paid by the importers
- Scheduling and number of inspectors is
determined by importers
- Coordination, data reporting and logistics paid
by the shippers
- Inspection Reciepts
- For cash flow reasons, CCQC will issue a mid
year invoice
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• 2007 – 08 Volume
Inspections by County
Kern
Tulare
Riverside
Fresno
193
108
13
7
321
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
•
•
•
•
•
•
New Bean Thrips Program
Pest Identification
Level of Activity – Riverside and Arizona
Availability of AQIS Officers
Holiday Break
Scheduling and Planning
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
November
Demember
10/20 10/27
11/3
11/10 11/17 11/24
12/1
Inspector 1 - Palm Springs/Bakersfield
11/3
Inspector 2 - Visalia
11/22
Inpsector Requested - Riverside - Arizona
10/19
11/30
October
12/8
12/15
12/22
January
12/29
1/5
12/20
12/20
12/20 - 1/4
Inspector 6 - Bakers
1/4
Inspector 6 - Visalia
1/4
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Bean Thrips Plan
• Certification
• Work Plan Compliance
Bill Abel, USDA/APHIS
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Typical Problems
– Understanding the Work Plan
– Shipping personnel informed about Work Plan
– Scheduling and Readiness, Staging
– Lot numbers and pallet tags
– NOIs completed accurately
• Accurate and Complete at time of inspection
• No Cross-outs or scribbles
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Typical Problems
– NOIs and Phytos
– Pest Finds and ID
– AQIS pest lists
– Communications,
• Delays, Cancellations, Changes
– Logjam on shipping dates
– Inspection Receipts and Data
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Re-inspections – If an load fails inspection
or is held for pest identification
– The NOI submitted is failed; The Packer must
present a new NOI
– The grower lot with the offending pest find
must be removed from the inspection lot
– A new 600 fruit sample is taken
– Re-inspection may be done before the AQIS
goes on to next job
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
• Workshop Schedule
Yuma
Riverside
Tulare
Kern
September 30
October 1
October 15
October 17
California Citrus Pre-clearance
Program
In Summary
• Process, Paperwork, Sanitation
• Pallet Tags, Lot Numbers, Phytos
• RFI Procedures
• Communications
• Patience and Cooperation
California Citrus Pre-clearance Program
USDA
Overall Program
Responsibility
Primary AQIS
contact for work
plan related
problems or
policy questions
Responsible for
pest reporting
AQIS
CCQC – Program
Coordinator
Counties
Fruit Inspection
Accommodations
and equipment
Assist with
inspections
AQIS Policy
Scheduling and
logistics
Pest identification
Actionable pests
Communication
with Packers
Communication
with Packers
Problem
resolution