Group Permit Streamlines Blueberry Consignment for ICA-31 Part A Businesses

Effective July 2025, a group permit now allows eligible NSW businesses accredited under ICA-31 – Pre-harvest treatment of blueberries to consign produce using a Fruit Delivery Docket instead of a Plant Health Assurance Certificate (PHAC).

This change simplifies documentation for consignments between Part A (growers) and Part B (packers) businesses under ICA-31, provided specific conditions are met.

What’s Changed?

Previously, ICA-31 required Part A businesses to issue a PHAC with each consignment to a Part B business. Under the new permit:

• Part A businesses may now use a Fruit Delivery Docket in place of a PHAC.
• This applies only to consignments between ICA-31 accredited Part A and Part B businesses.

Conditions Apply

To use a Fruit Delivery Docket instead of a PHAC, businesses must:

• Include essential information on the docket
• Maintain accurate records in line with ICA-31 requirements.
• Ensure produce has been treated and inspected as per the ICA-31 procedure.

Businesses must continue to meet all other ICA-31 obligations.

Key Messages for Industry

Simplified documentation: Fruit Delivery Dockets reduce paperwork for eligible consignments.

Accreditation still required: Both Part A and Part B businesses must be ICA-31 accredited.

Compliance remains critical: All treatment, inspection, and record-keeping requirements under ICA-31 still apply.

Market access unchanged: This update does not affect interstate quarantine conditions or market access requirements.

For full details, refer to the ICA-31 Procedure and the conditions outlined in the group permit.