afas newsletter december 2009 - issue 12

Inside this issue:

• Thailand Joint System Review 
• Malaysian Joint System Review
• New Fumigation Training Facilities in Thailand and Malaysia
• Offshore New Vehicle Inspection Program
• Technical Quick Tip
• Jan van Someren Graver
• Team Member Profile
• Up-coming Events
• Offshore Development Program Staff

Message from the Manager

The festive season is finally here. Despite the challenges of the global economic downturn 2009 has been a productive and busy year and the indications are that 2010 will be equally productive with further growth of the AFAS family.

The Offshore Development team has had a very busy year filled with Joint System Reviews, audits and the implementation of AFAS in the People’s Republic of China.

The Offshore New Vehicle Inspection Program (ONVIP) was im-plemented in Thailand in October. Training was delivered and with Thai quarantine officers now pre-clearing vehicles we believe that ONVIP will significantly reduce the number of quarantine risk vehicles and facilitate movement at the Australian border. In 2010 we will to welcome Viet Nam into AFAS with the commencement of training.

Sadly 2009 was also the year in which our one of our very experi-enced and valued consultants passed away. Jan van Someren Graver, who knew many of you personally, will be missed by all and our deepest condolences are with his family and friends.

As always, open communication with all of you is very important, and we value your feedback on any and all AFAS issues We wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas and may 2010 be a prosperous year.

David Cox
Manager
Offshore Development Program

Thailand Joint System Review

^{Mr Wongwihakorn, Mr Field and Mr Lapasatukul}

The Thai Joint System Review (JSR) was conducted from 14 – 22 October, 2009 in Bangkok and surrounds. A total of 13 companies were audited by AQIS and the Thai Department of Agriculture (DoA) JSR team which included, Ms Melessa Lawton (AQIS), Mr John Field (FT&CS), Mr Chusack Wongwichakorn (DoA), Ms Chortip Salyapongse (DoA), Ms Aroonsri Oyviratana (DoA), Ms Busarin Chattanachitara (DoA) and Mr Chamlong Lapasatukul (DoA). The JSR Team was very pleased to observe actual fumigations by the majority of fumigation companies audited. A high level of professionalism and commitment to achieving the objectives of AFAS was demonstrated and the fumigation practices, equipment, documentation and administration were of a high standard.

Some common issues were noted across a number of the companies audited, particularly the failure to use minimum temperatures when calculating the methyl bromide dosage; leak detection equipment not being serviced; and the use of overfull sand snakes which did not effectively seal the enclosure.

^{Ms Oyviratana, Ms Salyapongse, Ms Lawton and Ms Chattanachitara}

A problem observed in Thailand and also in other AFAS countries is re-infestation of fumigated consignments. Although this is not a fumigation fault, it is to the fumigator’s advantage to advise suppliers and exporters that their factories need to be kept clean and free from insects. This can be achieved by implementing pest control measures in export factories, storing fumigated goods separately from those that have not been treated and fumigating goods as close as possible to the export date. These measures will give greater assurance that fumigated goods will reach Australia insect free.

^{Preparing for a fumigation}

AQIS would like to sincerely thank the Thai DoA staff for organising the JSR and for their hospitality which made Melessa’s first visit to Thailand so enjoyable. AQIS looks forward to working with the Thai DoA to maintain the high standard of AFAS fumigation in Thailand.

Malaysian Joint System Review

Rodney Malone (AQIS) and Peter Meadows (Peter Meadows Consulting) travelled to Malaysia from 1–13 November, 2009 to conduct the annual JSR of AFAS in Malaysia.

The JSR Team, which also included officers from the Malaysian Department of Agriculture (DoA), visited 14 fumigation companies, three in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and 11 in the Kuala Lumpur region on the Malaysian peninsular.

The team was very pleased to see ‘live’ fumigations and demonstrations as part of all audits. This practice, when combined with the examination of documentation and equipment, provides a more complete picture of a company’s true level of compliance, ensuring accurate audit findings.

The overall findings from the JSR reflected a good standard of compliance from those companies audited and DoA’s management of AFAS was also found to be thorough and of a high standard.

One issue that was identified during the JSR was the need for fumigators to clearly indicate on fumigation certificates what the target of the fumigation was. Not clearly indicating the target of the fumigation can lead to fumigators being held responsible for the fumigation failure of consignments or packaging that they did not fumigate. This can be done by using the ‘additional declarations’ section at the bottom of fumigation certificates or ensuring the ‘description of goods’ matches the target of the fumigation. An example of this could read as follows; ‘This fumigation certificate covers the timber pallets ONLY’ or ‘This fumigation certificate covers the timber furniture ONLY’.

AQIS would like to thank the DoA officers and their management team for their efforts in making this JSR a success and for their warm hospitality. We would also like to thank the fumigation companies for giving us the time to review their practices. We look forward to returning next year.

^{The JSR team, consisting of AQIS, DoA and industry}

New Fumigation Training Facilities in Thailand and Malaysia

Dorothy Meadows, AFAS Training Consultant

Following the initial AFAS training courses in Indonesia and the implementation of AFAS in 2004, the Indonesian quarantine authorities developed and built an excellent training facility at their research station in Jakarta. This facility has been in operation since then and it was the centrepiece of a fumigation demonstration during the AFAS Symposium which was held in Jakarta in 2007.

Over the last few years they have been joined by Thailand and Malaysia who also have seen the benefits of a permanent training facility for the development of AFAS trained fumigators and quarantine officers. All of these facilities set a remarkably high standard.

^{Fumigation enclosure in front of the training rooms - Bangkok}

In Bangkok, Chusak Wongwichakorn, Chief of the Port of Bangkok Plant Quarantine Station, has overseen the construction of training facilities for the purpose of fumigation training and assessment. A disused warehouse on the port premises has been converted into a fumigation complex which allows for a fumigation site and training rooms. The rooms are used for training both fumigators and quarantine Officers. They are modern and up to date with audio visual equipment, sliding screens, whiteboards, boardroom tables and chairs and are fully air-conditioned. The two training rooms can be used individually for small groups or they can be opened up to accommodate larger groups.

^{The Bangkok Training Team - Busarin, Chusak and Eueychai}

Chusak Wongwichakorn, Eueychai Smitasiri and Busarin Chettanachitara administer the training sessions and the practical training is done just metres away from the rooms. Instead of travelling to a noisy port or fumigation yard, the practical training can now be done in relative peace so that explanations of concepts can be easily heard and discussed.

The fumigation enclosure consists of a rigid wooden frame, which is used to simulate a container. The trainees have access to all the equipment needed to set up the fumigation enclosure. There is adequate space for a ‘danger area’ and, after the gas has been introduced into the sheeted enclosure, the trainees can vacate the building into the garden outside. The same procedure applies for ventilation. During set up, the area is cooled by evaporative fans and, even in Bangkok’s oppressive heat, it is a pleasant place to work. There is also a small canteen on the premises so that staff and trainees alike can be provided with nourishment for the tasks ahead.

In Kuala Lumpur, Mohd Ridzuan Bin Ismail and his team at the Department of Agriculture have also excelled in providing ideal fumigation training facilities in the Department’s premise at Serdang. Here the setup is similar to Bangkok and there are several air conditioned classrooms available for training as well as a boardroom for smaller gatherings and rooms for assessment.

Outside, a monolithic concrete slab has been constructed and a container has been placed in the centre. There is also a roof over this area to give shelter from rain and sun. In these surroundings the practical training is carried out and the trainees practice their fumigation skills in a real life situation.

In both Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, oral and practical assessments can be carried out at the same venues eliminating the need for travel. It is a credit to the quarantine authorities of both countries that they have deemed fumigation training to be so important that they have gone to the trouble and expense to provide their officers and fumigators with such ideal sites. No wonder the trainees from both these countries demonstrate an exceptionally high standard during both the oral and practical assessments.

^{A fumigation taking place}

Offshore New Vehicle Inspection Program

AQIS officer Joan Hasiuk is accustomed to inspecting new vehicles, but she doesn’t normally have 20 trainees watching her! Joan found herself in this position when she delivered training in Thailand as part of the Offshore New Vehicle Inspection Program (ONVIP). This is a pilot program, which aims to address the risk associated with exotic weed seed contamination of new vehicles being imported to Australia.

The training was delivered 11-12 October, 2009 at Laem Chabang. Joan was assisted by Melessa Lawton from the Offshore Development Program. A total of 40 participants from the Thai DoA and Thai automotive industry attended.

^{First training team}

Inspection and cleaning of new vehicles upon arrival in Australia has resulted in expensive and delayed quarantine clearance. AQIS identified Laem Chabang in Thailand as one of the ports where seed contamination is a problem. Therefore, in partnership with the Thai Department of Agriculture (DoA), AQIS developed a package to train and accredit personnel to conduct inspections on new vehicles in accordance with AQIS import requirements.

AQIS will continue to carry out surveillance on vehicles inspected by accredited Thai Inspectors however, it is anticipated that ONVIP will significantly reduce the incidence of quarantine risk material on new vehicles imported from Thailand, thereby reducing delays and costs for the importers.

AQIS would like to thank Ms Oratai Eutrakool and her colleagues at the Thai DoA for their assistance and cooperation. We look forward to working with them to achieve positive quarantine outcomes through the ONVIP.

^{Practical session during ONVIP course}

Technical Quick Tip

Quick Tip # 3 - Start Time

The exposure period of a fumigation does not start until the concentration readings from all monitoring lines are at or above the standard and in equilibrium. The minimum acceptable concentration at start of the fumigation exposure period is determined by the time taken to achieve equilibrium therefore it is essential that the time the dose was completely introduced into the enclosure is recorded. The minimum concentrations required after adding the dose are:

Less than one hour 75% or more of the initial dose rate
More than one hour 70% or more of the initial dose rate

Equilibrium is achieved when the lowest concentration reading is within 15% of the highest reading.

Jan van Someren Graver

Jan van Someren Graver, who has died aged 70, spent much of his life in the front line defending Australia's agricultural industries against insect infesta-tions. He was a biologist whose qualifications in entomology, botany and zoology were gained at the Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Af-rica. He was proud of the knowledge he gained working as a scientist in Papua New Guinea, and later with CSIRO in Australia. As many of you know he loved sharing his knowledge and experience.

Jan grew up in Africa where he was involved in tsetse fly control, spending many nights under canvas in the African bush before he joined the London Fumigation Company in Dar es Salaam, the start of his involvement in stored product protection and fumigation and the beginning of his very prac-tical experience. Many of you would have heard his stories of fumigation of ships and grain with hydrogen cyanide.

Since 2003 he has been closely involved with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service in the development and delivery of the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS). Jan worked with fumigators and regulatory agencies in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, China, The Philippines and PNG. As many of you know he loved sharing his knowledge and experience and played a prominent role in introducing this knowledge to the AFAS community. Knowledge that has improved commercial and administrative capacities while reducing the quarantine risks to Australia. Jan’s colourful personality and knowledge made him a popular figure who was much loved across Asia.

He leaves an enormous gap in expertise in the science, practical experience and practice of fumiga-tion. One that will be impossible to fill. Jan will be remembered as a story teller, a man with a sense of purpose and history, a selfless and inspirational teacher and a person of great energy and vitality.

Jan van Graver is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Saskia and son Dirk.

Team Member Profile

Wayne Riley

Qualifications: Bachelor of Applied Science Master of Business Administration

Role in ODP: At this point in time primarily Occupational Health & Safety projects but transitioning into AFAS work.

Hobbies: I have run half marathons, marathons and the City to Surf. I also enjoy bike riding, golf and camping.

Previous Occupations:

Chemist at Australian Coal Industries Research Laboratories
Senior Chemist Brown Coal Liquefaction Victoria
Analytical Chemist at ACT Government Analytical laboratories
Director of Food and Environmental Laboratories for ACTGAL
I have currently been in AQIS Import Clearance for 10 years and have worked in almost all areas including two years in Imported Foods.

Up-coming Events

• Onshore Fumigation Training 8-12 March 2010 Adelaide
  
• India Joint System Review (JSR) 15-26 March 2010 India
  

Offshore Development Program

Manager
David Cox

Development & Implementation
Nathan Reid - Manager
Gordon Weinert
Nadia Hummel

Audit & Review
Mark King - Manager
Rodney Malone
Isabella Johnston

Policy & New Initiatives
Patricia Fox - Manager
Melessa Lawton
Wayne Riley