Quarantine Issues

In India fumigators are licensed to use Methyl Bromide(Mbr) and Aluminium Phosphide (Alp)for fumigating the agri consignments. Aluminium Phosphide is economical and environmental friendly fumigant. But, Constraint with Alp is it is not ovicidal. That means it cannot penetrate into egg stages of insects life stage. Egg, Larvae , Pupae and adult are the four life stages of insects. Among these four stages egg and pupae stages are dormant and it is difficult to control these life stages wil Alp. Only Methyl Bromide can control all four life stages of insects with the dosage of 80 gms/cbm. For 48 Hours.

Dosage of fumigant is very critical to achieve 100 percent mortality of insect infestation. It takes only seven days for egg to grow into next life stage of larvae. If Alp or lower dosage of Mbr is used, adult and larval stages of insects are killed. But other two stages will remain alive and it will become active after one week. Hence, it is very important to use Methyl Bromide with the dosage of 80 gms/cbm. for 48 hours of exposure period.

Proper dosage of the fumigant and gas tightness of the containers are the two critical parameters to achieve the 100 percent mortality of the pest and insects. If the insects are not exposed with full dosage of the fumigant we cannot kill them completely.

For example for coir and dry plant materials the minimum recommended dosage of Methyl Bromide is 48 grams per cubic meter.

Calculation fumigant dosage:

1. Recommended dosage: =Methyl Bromide -48 grams per cubic meter.
2. Volume of 1×40 feet high cube container cargo(Approx)= 76 cubic meters.
3. Total fumigant required for 1×40’= 76 cubic meters x 48 grams = 3648 grams of Methyl Bromide
4. Weight of one Methyl Bromide can= 680 grams. Hence, 3648 grams/680grams= 5.36 cans.

From the above calculation we can understand that the dosage required to fumigate one container cargo is 6 cans of 680 grams each.

Longer sea voyage period in closed freight containers gives suitable atmosphere for the insects to breed and multiply inside the containers. High humidity and temperature are the very important factors which allows insect’s free multiplication. So, if the voyage is exceeding two weeks we need to use higer dosages in orders to control infestation completely.

Fumigant gases are highly volatile in nature. So they dissipate quickly into the enclosure and spreading all over. If our containers are not completely airtight the gas will escape from the containers. Often we found freight containers are not in gas tight condition. The soundness of the containers deficits day by day due to the continuous usage, handling etc. Hence, it is very important to check the soundness of the containers before loading of consignments into it. Doors, rubber beadings, seems, locks, floors, roof and side walls are the critical areas to check .

Indian and international quarantine authorities are advising the stake holders to use the packing materials which permeable to fumigant gas. Impervious packing materials such PP bags not allowing sufficient concentration of fumigant gas into the core of the consignment. Because of this 100 percent mortality of insects are not achieved. We request to you to use perforated pp bags or cotton bags in order to get the better results.

As described above fumigants are pure gases. They will be present in the enclosure during the exposure period and then getting degassed after the exposure period of 24-48 hours. Since they act in gaseous state they will not be able to give any residual protection for the treated cargo. Only because of this nature our cargo is safe for the end users. But, at the same time if our cargo is exposed to other un fumigated and infested commodities. Cross infestation also possible during storage where our cargo is stored along with other consignments stored along with.

1. Fumigators must ensure that the consignment is properly fumigated by following national standards. They should ensure that ISPM marking is done on the wood packing materials as specified in the ISPM 15 standards.
2. It is mandatory to mark all wooden packing material as per ISPM #15 standards. If the marking is not legible on the wood then the consignments will be sent back to India. For containerized shipments, the customer should ensure that all the wood packing materials used in the shipment is properly treated and stamped with ISPM 15 marking. It is not possible for the fumigators to check the wood packing materials after it is loaded into the containers. Hence, fumigators should not be held responsible for the lacking of ISPM marking and quality of wood.

1. It is very important to appoint a fumigator who is technically sound-having knowledge and field experience and accredited by the national quarantine authorities.
2. Care should be taken to check that all the wooden packing materials are 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 it will be sent back to the port of origin.
3. The planning of the wood has to be done properly so that the marking will be legible on the wood.
4. In normal practice coir pith shipments are wrapped with plastic sheets. As mentioned earlier plastic wrappings will not allow the fumigant to penetrate into the commodity and because of that live pest will be available inside the commodity. To avoid such problem the plastic sheets should be slashed/perforated in such a way it allows free movement of air and fumigant gas inside.
5. The manufacturing and processing facility should be kept in pest free status.
6. Periodical cleaning and sanitation procedure to followed.
7. Care should be taken to avoid soil and other plant materials contamination in the final product.
8. Periodical Pest control measures such as Spraying, Rodent Control should be done.
9. For Factory stuffed containers ISPM 15 marking should be done and ensured before stuffing.

1. 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 into the container. Due to this soil contamination happens and in some cases weeds can also grow on the wooden packing materials.
2. 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.
3. If fumigation is carried out in the container, it should be detained for 24 hours to complete the degassing. After which it can be released for shipment. If the container is detained for 24 hours and then aerated, the absorption of Methyl Bromide fumigant on the cargo is less. If the agents do not detain the container for 24 hours for aeration purposes the chances of aerating the cargo is not possible.

Fumigators roll on controlling fungi is very limited as fungi are not an insect and it does not have any respiratory organ. It is proven fact that fungi are not controlled with fumigation even at high dosage levels. Fumigation is done only to kill live insects and pests and not for fungal control.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Anti fungal treatment has to be carried out by the wood supplier prior to the supply of wooden packing material to the exporter.
5. Wood science and quarantine officials are encouraging pine wood packing materials rather than country wood or rubber wood. Coniferous trees(pine wood) will not retain high moisture so that the possibility of fungus and cross infestation will be very less.
6. If there is an evidence of infestation like wood powder spillage, boring holes, fungus marks then the wood should not be used for packing .
7. Wood bark (skin of the wood)is also a quarantine risk of concern. Hnece, the wood should be properly shaved.

1. Care should be taken while selecting the freight containers for shipment. Any defects in the structure of containers such as holes, rusting, damage of door rubber beadings, dents on the doors will lead to moisture damage during voyage. Also the fumigant gas will be leaked from the containers resulting failure of fumigation.
2. Moisture absorbing desiccants such as Calcium chloride and Silica get may be used to absorb the atmospheric moisture (condensation) during voyage.

Hence, it needless to say that collective effort from all the stake holders is the key to achieve the success in delivering pest free consignments to the customer.