Bilateral Agreement on Export of Apples to Kingdom of Thailand – Annex 2

Annex 2

Requirements for In-Transit Cold Disinfestation Treatment

Attached to Notification of Department of Agriculture
Re: Conditions for Import of Apple Fruit from the Republic of South Africa
B.E. 2567 (2024)

1. Requirements for Containers

1. Container types and series must be suitable for in-transit cold disinfestation treatment.
2. Containers must be self-refrigerated shipping containers equipped with a recording device.
   • The NPPO is responsible for ensuring containers are suitable and have refrigeration equipment capable of achieving and holding the required temperatures.

2. Requirements for Temperature Recording System

The NPPO must ensure that the temperature recording system (cold treatment data recorders and fruit pulp temperature sensors) meets the following criteria:

1. The system must be suitable for cold disinfestation treatment. Accuracy must be within ±0.3 °C in the range of -3 °C to +3 °C.
2. The system must operate automatically and accommodate at least three fruit temperature sensors.
3. The system must continuously record date, time, sensor number, and temperature during all calibrations and throughout the treatment period.
4. The system must record all temperature sensors at least once every hour, with a resolution of 0.1 °C, and store data until it can be examined by the DOA officer.
5. The system must produce printouts identifying each sensor, time, temperature, recorder ID, and container ID.

3. Requirements for Temperature Sensors

1. Sensor type must have optimal accuracy for the cold treatment temperature range.
2. Sensors must have an outer sheath diameter of 6.4 mm or less. The sensing unit must be within the first 25 mm of the sensor tip. Sensors must be accurate to within ±0.3 °C in the range of -3 °C to +3 °C.
3. Each sensor must be tagged with a number identical to its readings in the printout.

4. Calibration of Temperature Sensors

1. Calibration must be conducted under NPPO supervision.
2. Use a mixture of crushed ice and distilled water in a clean insulated container before placing sensors in fruit.
3. Crushed ice should fill 80–85% of the container; water fills the remaining 15–20%.
4. Stir the mixture thoroughly and allow at least 10 minutes for the temperature to stabilize at 0 °C.
5. During calibration, immerse all sensors and the calibrated thermometer in the ice-water slurry without touching the sides or bottom. Stir constantly. Take readings only after stabilization.
6. Record two consecutive readings for each sensor at the lowest temperature, at least 60 seconds apart (not exceeding 5 minutes). The variance must not exceed 0.1 °C.
7. Any sensor deviating more than ±0.3 °C from 0 °C must be replaced.
8. A “Certificate of calibration for in-transit cold disinfestation treatment in self-refrigerated container” (see Annex 3) must be prepared for each container by the NPPO officer. Attach the original to the phytosanitary certificate.

5. Placement of Temperature Sensors

1. Loading of packed fruit and placement of sensors must be supervised by the NPPO.
2. Containers must be packed to ensure even airflow under and around all pallets and cartons.
3. At least three temperature sensors are required to monitor innermost fruit pulp temperature, distributed throughout a representative cross-section of the container.
4. Insert sensors carefully into the center of test fruit (largest in the lot). For small fruit, the sensor should penetrate two or more fruit. The sensor tip must not extend beyond the fruit. If fruit is ruptured or opened, the treatment is rejected.
5. Sensor placement in containers:
   • 6 m (20 ft) container: Two sensors in boxes diagonally opposite at the side walls, ~1 m from the end of the load.
   • 12 m (40 ft) container: Two sensors in boxes diagonally opposite at the side walls, ~1.5 m from the end of the load.
   • One sensor in a box at the center of the container.
   • All sensors at mid-height of the stack.

6. Sealing of Containers

1. After loading, close and seal the container door with a numbered metal seal under NPPO supervision. The seal must remain intact until arrival in Thailand, where only DOA inspectors may open it. Containers with a broken seal will be rejected.
2. Record the seal number on the phytosanitary certificate.

7. Confirmation of Treatment

1. Cold disinfestation treatment must be completed during the voyage to Thailand. The shipping company must download and forward treatment records to the port officer.
2. The DOA Bangkok Office verifies treatment records and advises the port officer if requirements are met.
3. Upon arrival, DOA checks calibration of fruit temperature sensors and verifies treatment records.
4. If re-calibration at completion shows a higher setting than initial calibration, probe recordings will be adjusted accordingly.
5. If the adjustment shows the treatment schedule was not met, the treatment fails. The consignment must be re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense.

8. PPECB Authorization

The Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) is appointed by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), NPPO of South Africa, as an assignee under the Agricultural Product Standards Act, 1990 (Act No. 119 of 1990). PPECB is authorized to perform specific functions in Sections 4, 5, and 6 on behalf of DALRRD.

Figure 1: Placement of fruit temperature sensors in a container for in-transit cold disinfestation treatment.
(Refer to original document for diagrams.)