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AFAS Newsletter May 2011 - Issue 13

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AFAS Newsletter May 2011 – Issue 13
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Inside this issue:

Message from the Manager
AFAS—Vietnam Assistance Visit & Launch
Papua New Guinea Joint System Review
AFAS—Sri Lanka Training Visit
2011 Quarantine Regulators Meeting
AFAS—India Joint System Review
Technical Quick Tip
AFAS Team Member Profile
Upcoming Events
Offshore Development Program Staff
Further Information

Message from the Manager

It has been a busy start to 2011 for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and the Offshore Development Program. One of the great highlights for AFAS is that Vietnam is now an official member of the AFAS community. A ceremony to commemorate the occasion was held in Hanoi on 1 April 2011. You can see photos of the launch on page 2 of the newsletter.

Joint System Reviews were conducted in Thailand and Papua New Guinea and fumigation training of Sri Lankan government officers and fumigators was successfully delivered in March 2011.

The 2011 Quarantine Regulators Meeting, co–hosted by Malaysia and Australia, will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 24 to 26 May 2011. The meeting aims to bring together government regulatory agencies responsible for, or interested in, quarantine treatments and initiatives related to the movement of cargo in trade.

As always, open communication within the AFAS community is extremely important and we welcome your valued feedback on all AFAS issues.

I wish you all the very best for 2011 and look forward to continuing the great success of the AFAS program.

David Cox

David Cox, National Manager
Offshore Development Program

AFAS—Vietnam Assistance Visit & Launch

In January 2011 AQIS officers and the Plant Protection Department (PPD) of Vietnam jointly assessed the eligibility of companies intending to register with AFAS–Vietnam.

Where opportunities for improvements were identified advice was provided to assist a company to meet the standard required for participation.

While in Vietnam AQIS officers had an opportunity to observe the new PPD AFAS training team conduct their first fumigation training course for industry. The effectiveness of the training was very good with all participants being assessed as competent. The experience gained by the training team will continue to enhance the quality of the AFAS fumigation training into the future.

With training complete and a number of companies registered AFAS–Vietnam was launched on 1 April 2011. A ceremony to commemorate the occasion was held at the Sofitel Plaza Hotel in Hanoi.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Plant Protection Department, AQIS, the Vietnamese fumigation industry and Ms Angela Pickett, First Secretary, Australian Embassy, Hanoi.

David Cox, National Manager Offshore Development Program thanked the Plant Protection Department for their efforts in the implementation of AFAS and acknowledged the commitment of the registered treatment providers.

Vietnam launch

AFAS–Vietnam Launch

Vietnam implementation and fumigation training team

Vietnam implementation and fumigation training team.

Papua New Guinea Joint System Review

The 2011 Joint Systems Review (JSR) of AFAS in Papua New Guinea (PNG) was conducted in February 2011 with fumigation companies in Port Moresby, Wewak, Rabaul and Madang being audited. The audit team also took the opportunity to conduct training sessions in Lae and Port Moresby.

The PNG National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) was represented by Mr Anslem Saleu for the entirety of the two week period, with additional NAQIA officers attending the audits in their local regions.

The AQIS representatives were Mr Rodney Malone, Mr David Kershaw (AQIS) with Mr John Field (Fumigation Training & Consulting Services). The overall findings from the JSR reflected an improving standard of compliance from those companies audited.

Two of the general issues identified during the JSR were the need for fumigators to ensure fumigation equipment is calibrated and/or serviced appropriately and the importance of ensuring all documentation is completed fully and accurately.

The AQIS team would like to thank the NAQIA officers and their management team for their efforts throughout the JSR and for their warm hospitality.

We would also like to thank the fumigation companies for giving us the time to review their practices.

Papua New Guinea Joint System Review

Papua New Guinea JSR and Training teams

AFAS–Papua New Guinea JSR and Training teams

AFAS—Sri Lanka Training Visit

AFAS implementation has started in Sri Lanka with fumigation training being delivered to 50 industry fumigators and government officers over a two week period in early March 2011.

The training coincided with the Cricket World Cup so there was much good–natured rivalry between the trainers and the trainees especially as there was a game between the Sri Lankans and Australians on the weekend between the two courses. Perhaps it was lucky that the game was rained–out as both sides could then claim they were in the stronger position to win the game and everyone was happy.

Joanne Stokes from MAF New Zealand attended the 2nd week of training to get first–hand knowledge of the AFAS program.

Sri Lanka Implementation Visit representatives

AFAS–Sri Lanka Implementation Visit representatives

2011 Quarantine Regulators Meeting

The 2011 Quarantine Regulators Meeting will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 24–26 May 2011 hosted by Australia and Malaysia collectively.

Under the title “Quarantine Cooperation in Cargo Management” the meeting will aim to bring together government regulatory agencies responsible for, or interested in, quarantine treatments and initiatives related to the movement of cargo in trade.

Practical approaches to quarantine risk management will be a focus for the meeting with the forum aimed at facilitating an open discussion on the opportunity to enhance international capacity building for quarantine management of cargo.

Major outcomes arising from the 2010 Quarantine Regulators Meeting held in Viña del Mar, Chile in June 2010 will also be discussed. The 2010 Quarantine Regulators Meeting was co–hosted by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and the Servicio Agrícola Ganadero.

The meeting showed strong support for the continued expansion of the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS). Delegates agreed that the current system of bilateral arrangements could be converted to a single multilateral arrangement and a working group (Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia) has been established to develop this expression of interest.

The meeting was a great success, delegates particularly appreciated the field trip where we were able to view first hand Chile’s excellent quarantine facilities and arrangements.

For further information regarding the 2011 Quarantine Regulators Meeting, please contact the AFAS team.

“Quarantine Cooperation in Cargo Management”

24–26 May 2011

AFAS—India Joint System Review

The 2011 Joint Systems Review (JSR) of AFAS in India was conducted from 19 April to 5 May 2011. A total of 18 companies were audited in Jodhpur, Tuticorin and Chennai. With the audit team regularly working in temperatures above 40 degrees, this was certainly one of the most challenging JSRs to have been conducted in recent times.

As was the case in 2010, the audit team were accompanied by the Australian Agricultural Post in India, Mr Ian Mortimer, who was pleased to see first hand, fumigations and audits taking place.

The standard of compliance with AFAS was broad, but special mention must go to the following companies, AFASIN001, AFASIN002, AFASIN039 and AFASIN063, whose level of compliance was outstanding.

The Indian JSR Team

Technical Quick Tip

Equilibrium

An effective fumigation requires even distribution of methyl bromide throughout the enclosure. This is called equilibrium and it is achieved when the difference between the lowest and highest concentration reading is 15% or less.

At least one fan must be used in each container and there must be sufficient free space for the air to circulate freely. Take concentration readings from monitor tubes placed at representative points within the enclosure (refer Section 5.1 of the AQIS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard) to calculate if equilibrium has been reached.

Heat Treatment Standard

AQIS is developing a heat treatment standard which will provide a methodology for offshore treatment providers. We anticipate circulation of the methodology to AFAS partner countries for comment by 1 May 2011.

Non AFAS countries can obtain a copy on request.

The draft document will be discussed at the Quarantine Regulators Meeting in Malaysia in May this year, with the view to consolidation of comments and progression of the document to finalisation.

AFAS Team Member Profile

Turhadi Noerachman – Indonesia

Role in AFAS: Fumigation Manager in AFAS Indonesia Program and Contact Person for AFAS Indonesia.

Qualifications: Science Master of Entomology

Hobbies: Sport and travelling

Previous Occupations: 1992–2002 Plant Quarantine Officer; 2002–2004 Head, Sub Division of Technical Assistance of Export and Import Plant; 2002–2004 Quarantine; Head, Sub Division of Export and Domestic; Trainer of Good Fumigation Practices; and, 2004 – Current – Plant Quarantine.

Turhadi Noerachman