New national app puts export compliance at growers’ fingertips

Australian horticulture is set to benefit from a new, centralised digital platform that will make it easier for growers and exporters to meet international chemical compliance standards and protect valuable market access. 

The Multi-Industry MRL Data Access and Maintenance project (MT25002), funded by Hort Innovation and led by the Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA), will deliver a user-friendly web and mobile app providing real-time, country-specific Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) and withholding period data for eight major export commodities, including table grapes, avocados, cherries, berries, mangoes, melons, apples, pears, and stone fruit. 

For growers, the new platform means faster, easier access to critical chemical use data, supporting informed decision-making, reducing regulatory risks, and streamlining export processes. By helping growers comply with chemical use requirements, the app plays a vital role in ensuring that Australian fresh produce meets international standards for safety and quality, giving overseas customers confidence that every shipment is safe and fresh.  

The app will feature live data feeds, tailored interfaces for each commodity, and, where relevant, integration with existing export registration systems, ensuring a smooth user experience from paddock to port. 

Brett Fifield, CEO at Hort Innovation, said: “This investment is about putting practical, real-time compliance tools in the hands of growers and exporters. By making this information accessible and easy to use, we’re helping industry stay ahead of changing market requirements, safeguard export opportunities, and reduce the risk of costly compliance issues. Ultimately, this project will help growers focus on productivity and growth, knowing they have the right information at their fingertips to meet export standards.” 

The project will also establish a long-term governance and maintenance framework, ensuring the app remains sustainable and continues to evolve with industry needs. Stakeholders, including growers, packers, agronomists, industry associations, and regulators, will be engaged throughout the design and testing phases to ensure the platform meets real-world requirements. 

Project lead, Jeff Scott, CEO of the Australian Table Grape Association, said: “Export compliance is a shared challenge across horticulture, and this project is about making it easier for every grower and exporter to access the information they need, when they need it.” 

“By centralising MRL data and integrating it with our export systems, we’re giving industry a tool that supports smarter chemical use, reduces risk, and helps keep Australian produce moving into key markets. We’re proud to be leading this collaboration and delivering a solution that benefits growers across so many commodities.” 

This initiative builds on more than a decade of industry collaboration and digital innovation, expanding the successful table grape MRL app to serve a broader range of horticultural commodities. The new app will be accessible on Android and iOS devices, with ongoing support and training provided to drive adoption and maximise impact. 

This project (MT25002) is funded by Hort Innovation, using the table grape, summerfruit, apples & pear, blueberry, raspberry & blackberry, strawberry, mango, melon, avocado, and cherry industry research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government.