Export certification requirements of fresh cherries from British Columbia to China, Japan, Thailand, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Korea (Republic of)

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• Requirements for growers to export fresh cherries from British Columbia
• Requirements for packing facilities to export fresh cherries from British Columbia

Requirements for growers to export fresh cherries from British Columbia

To be eligible to export fresh cherries produced in British Columbia (BC) to China, Japan, Thailand, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Korea (Republic of) growers must register with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) by completing and signing a compliance agreement. The agreement can be obtained by contacting your local CFIA office.

A general overview of the export certification requirements are indicated below for these destinations.

The compliance agreements for the export of fresh cherries to these countries by growers located in BC include but are not limited to the following requirements:

Pest monitoring

• A designated, qualified Pest Manager or contracted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) specialist must conduct the specific pest monitoring activities

  Pest monitoring and management must be conducted as per CFIA guidelines that are provided with the compliance agreement.

• Registered growers must follow orchard sanitation practices

  Good agricultural practices and a pesticide spray program must be carried out to ensure active prevention and control of pests of concern.

Records

• Registered growers must complete and maintain monitoring and spray records for each registered orchard
• The records must be made available to CFIA and the BC Cherry Association (BCCA) upon request

Packing

• Fresh cherries for export must be packed at a packing facility that has been registered with the CFIA

Export certification

• Consignments will not be approved or be eligible for export if any pests of concern of the destination are found during the CFIA export inspection
• Registered growers are responsible for respecting any other regulations in place in the destination, including Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)

Requirements for packing facilities to export fresh cherries from British Columbia

To be eligible to export fresh cherries produced in British Columbia (BC) to China, Japan, Thailand, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Korea (Republic of) packing facilities must register with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) by completing and signing a compliance agreement. The agreement can be obtained by contacting your local CFIA office.

A general overview of the export certification requirements are indicated below for these destinations.

The compliance agreements for the export of fresh cherries by packing facilities located in BC to these countries include but are not limited to the following requirements:

Product source

• The cherries must be sourced from registered orchards in British Columbia

Facility requirements

• Practices are in place to maintain facility sanitation, including cull removal and disposal
• Processes are in place related to grading, handling and packing cherry fruit
• Facility personnel are trained to detect insect damage during the sorting and grading process and to remove any fruit which is scarred, discolored, deformed, over-ripe or otherwise of poor quality
• Measures must be in place to maintain the identity and traceability of the cherries from the orchard to packed fruit
• All packing materials must be new and clean

Records

• A list of registered orchards that may supply cherries for export must be maintained
• The facility must maintain a Standard Operating Procedure that describes processes related to grading, handling and packing of cherry fruit
• Traceability records for all cherries sourced from registered orchards
• Maintain training records for facility personnel
• All records must be made available to the CFIA upon request

Labelling

• Mark boxes with the name, location and 10-digit registration number

Storage and transport

• Ensure packed product is placed immediately under cold storage
• Ensure each consignment is prepared for shipping in a manner that discourages tampering and maintains consignment integrity

Export certification

• The registered packing facility must have a dedicated area for the CFIA to conduct the export certification inspection

  The dedicated area must be away from moving traffic and forklifts, and include a worktable as well as adequate lighting

• The consignment will not be eligible for export if pests of concern are found during the CFIA export inspection
• Registered packing facilities are responsible for respecting any other regulations in place in the destination, including Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)