Decide the best way to handle contents and inspect. Examples: turn over telescopic cartons and transfer produce left in the lid to the inner during inspection empty produce onto the inspection bench use inspection benches specially designed for particular products (for example, bulbs or tubers that need to be re-bagged) open inner packages, such as bags, linings or wrapping, to inspect produce use proper lighting for commodities, such as advanced nursery stock, that cannot be raised onto inspection benches. When first opening the package, and before handling the produce: inspect the surface of contents for contamination, such as leaves, trash and soil examine the inside of the package for pests and contaminants if bagged, inspect the outside of the bag and in the bag (after tipping). You may use magnification and/or cuts to verify anything you detected during your visual inspection. Apply zero tolerance if you find: soil contaminants, including weed seeds pests, including arthropods and disease. Be alert for the wide variety of symptoms indicating that pest presence, such as: chewed product—insects such as caterpillars soft spots and rots—disease stings—internal feeders holes—borers or weevils webbing—caterpillars such as loopers or leaf rollers speckling on the leaf or blemishes on product—mites, thrips or aphids sticky honeydew and associated sooty mould (fine black mealy bug uneven yellowing of leaf or spots on product—virus rolled leaves—thrips or caterpillars leaf spotting—yellowish, dark brown or black and possibly with yellow halo-bacteria
water-soaked areas on leaf—bacteria or fungus powdery appearance—fungus or mildew galls—gall wasp or nematodes on roots, stems or leaves. Place cold and immobile arthropod pests on a small circle drawn on white paper. As the pest warms up, it is more likely to move. Cut flowers and cut foliage: fully inspect each unit (for example, carton) after emptying contents on the inspection bench inspect the inside of the package examine each bunch or individual flower(s) or foliage by turning upside down, tapping stems and shaking over an inspection tray to dislodge arthropods examine 5 stems from each unit using at least x 10 magnification. If mixed Genera are in a unit, inspect 5 stems for each one. Pay attention to all surfaces of the flower head, especially under petals and sepals. Check the underside of leaves inspect the tray for live pests remembering that some, such as mites, are very small. Plant and cuttings: note special conditions on the approved export compliance record, such as mother stock, destructive testing and virus indexing fully inspect each unit (for example, carton) after emptying contents on the inspection bench inspect the inside of the package examine suspect pests and/or contamination using at least x 10 magnification usually, inspect each plant or piece one at a time. If there are many cuttings, examine 5 pieces from each unit using at least x 10 magnification. If mixed Genera are in a unit, inspect 5 pieces for each one. Pay attention to all surfaces, especially under the leaves ensure importing country conditions are met for potting medium. Generally soil is prohibited but peat, perlite, vermiculite and similar sterile media might be permitted inspect the top of the material for live pests and symptoms of disease, noting that some, such as mites, are very small place cold and immobile arthropod pests on a small circle drawn on white paper. As the pest warms up, it is more likely to move