Notice to Industry 4/2009 - Residual Contamination Testing of Sea Containers February 2009

There is some evidence that imported sea containers can have levels of residual fumigants and other contaminants that may be potentially harmful to people facing continued exposures.

To obtain more precise and relevant evidence AQIS is conducting a series of tests to indentify fumigants and other contaminants which remain inside containers, the concentrations involved and investigate work practices that will assist in minimising the risk of potential exposure.

Some specific testing has already been conducted in relation to methyl bromide fumigations at the Sydney ISS facilities in late December 2008. Towards the end of February another series of tests will be performed at Patrick Port Services using containers directed for tailgate inspections. These tests will be determining the range and typical concentration of fumigants and other contaminants that remain inside containers at the time they are landed in Australia. 

The testing will involve sampling 30 containers for a number of gases and should reflect results of similar testing that has been reported by ICS.  It is anticipated that these tests will only take around five to seven minutes per container, so minimal disruption to normal container through-put is expected.

The results of these tests will identify what typical fumigant and other contaminant concentrations (particularly methyl bromide) can be expected and it will assist in directing further testing for the 'two metre/two minute rule' currently applied to tailgate activities.

AQIS intends to make the results of these tests available to the wider industry to assist in better targeting potential risk to persons involved in the unpacking of containers.

The cooperation of all parties that may be impacted by this testing will be much appreciated.

Further information

Please contact General Manager Co-regulation and Support, AQIS Canberra on (02) 6272 3933.