Field audits are mandatory for all fresh produce exporters. However, flowers to Australia and very high risk flowers e.g., roses to the European Union (EU) and summer flowers will require quarterly inspections. EU market requirements can be found
click here.
Failure to meet standards can lead to loss of pest-free area status. Intense audits are done on the following; vegetables (chillies, basil, and Asian vegetables), flowers (gypsophila, eryngium, statice, solidago, hypericum, and carnations (dianthus)) and plants for propagation (rooted and un-rooted, herbaceous and non-herbaceous).
Risk profiling requirements are specific to the importing market requirements, type of pests, number of notifications and number of rejections/interceptions. The inspection can be done by one or two inspectors depending on the size the farm or go-down facility. Consolidators of flowers will not undergo the step of audit if the farms they are sourcing from have been audited by KEPHIS.