PQ Fumigation Procedures

It is mandatory to mark all wooden packing material as per ISPM #15 standard. If the marking is not legible on the wood then the consignment are liable to be sent back to India. Sometimes, we are carrying out fumigation of wooden packing material after it is loaded inside the container.

While carrying out container fumigation we are unable to know whether all the wooden packing material has been marked properly or not. While stuffing of the container is taking place care should be taken to ensure that all the wooden packing material has to be stamped properly.

We here below submit a few precautions which will be useful while using wooden packing material in export cargo.

1. Care should be taken to check that all the wooden packing material should be completely de-barked (removal of the skin). If the bark is found at the port of discharge even if there is no infestation the containers will be sent back to the port of origin.
2. The planing of the wood has to be done properly so that the marking will be legible on the wood. Care should be taken that the packing wood should not be exposed to rains by storing them in open to sky areas. This will cause fungus problems in the wood. Please note MBR fumigation does not offer any relief for fungus growth. Fungus growth mainly comes on the wood due to high moisture content in the wood. The ideal moisture content should be between 18% and 20%. Moisture meters are available in the market and the wood supplier should supply only quality wood which is completely planned and de-barked.
3. While using polyethylene sheets on the cargo care should be taken to avoid wrapping on the wooden packing material. By carrying out wrapping the moisture in the wood will not be able to escape thereby fungus problems can occur. Poly ethylene sheets used should have perforation so that the moisture can escape and there will not be any fungus problems.
4. The ventilation holes of the container should not be sealed this will allow adequate ventilation for the cargo during the voyage.
5. While nailing the wooden crates water should not be poured on the wood. This might also help in increasing the moisture content of the wood.
6. In most of the CFS the packed wooden crates are kept in the soil and due to this the crates sink in the soil and when it is lifted with the forklift soil contamination along with weed growth enters the container. Due to this soil contamination in some cases weeds can also grow on the wooden packing materials.
7. Some of the forklift drivers while picking up the wooden crates tend to immerse the forklift blade in the soil and thereby soil contamination happens.
8. Anti fungal treatment has to be carried out by the wooden supply prior to the supplier of wooden packing material to the exporter.
9. Methyl Bromide fumigation should be carried out at the dosage of 48gms/m3.
10. If fumigation is carried out in the container should be detained for 24 hours after which it can be released for shipment. The container is detained for 24 hours and then aerated so that the absorption of Methyl Bromide fumigant on the cargo is less. If aeration is not carried out properly then there might be smell emanating from the cargo at the port of discharge. If the agents do not detain the container for 24 hours for aeration purposes the chances of aerating the cargo is not possible.

Packing materials used for packing of rice should not be from impervious materials. Packing materials such as PP bags, laminated bags will minimize the gas penetration which will lead to failure of fumigation.

Quarantine authorities strongly recommend packing such as cotton bags and gunny bags which will easily allow the gas circulation inside the bags.

The customers should file the application along with Invoice, Shipping bill copy and purchase contract. If any additional declaration is required on the PSC , there should be special request either from the Shipper, Consignee or from the discharge port quarantine.

For the consignments which requires fumigation endorsement on the PSC Fumigation and degassing should be done as per the standards under the supervision of Plant quarantine officials. The consignments should be unloaded at the clean and hygienic area in the CFS/Warehouse leaving enough space all around. Then the same should be covered with tarpaulins and fumigated with recommended fumigant. Only on completion of degassing after the exposure period the consignments will be released for shipment. Alternatively we are permitted to do load container fumigation provided the container is halted for degassing.

Only after completion of these procedures the documentation/recommendation follow up is done at RPQS office. After completing all documentation work Phytosanitary certificate is issued from R.P.Q.S.