afas newsletter july 2008 - issue 8

Inside this issue:

• AFAS Wins Environmental Award
• Team Member Profile
• AFAS India
• AFAS PNG
• AFAS Indonesia

Message from the Manager

Welcome to the second issue of the Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (AFAS) News for 2008.

This year has been both exciting and busy for the Offshore Development Unit with plenty of upcoming activities.

Following the success of the Brisbane Quarantine Regulators Meeting, we are seeking funding from the Asia Pacific Economic Corporation (APEC) and, if approved, the next Quarantine Regulators Meeting will be held in Peru early in 2009.

We are also planning AFAS Joint Systems Reviews at the end of August 2008 in Malaysia and October 2008 in Thailand.

The team has also been busy refining the three training programs: Fumigation Training, Train-The-Trainer training and Audit Training.

I will be making a presentation on AFAS for the 8th International Conference on Controlled Atmosphere and Fumigation in Stored Products. The conference is being held in China 21-26 September 2008.

Those of you attending the Methyl Bromide Alternative Outreach Conference in Orlando, Florida in November will have the chance to catch up with Patricia Fox who will be representing AQIS.

As always, open communication with all of you is very important, and we value your feedback on any and all AFAS issues.

David Cox
Manager
Offshore Development Unit
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service

AFAS Wins Prestigious US environmental Award!

AFAS was honoured to receive the prestigious 2008 Stratospheric Ozone Layer Protection Award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its efforts in reducing the use of methyl bromide through effective fumigation practices. The award is in recognition of exceptional contributions to global environmental protection.

^{Dr Rob Williams accepts the award on behalf of AQIS}

Dr Rob Williams, Agriculture Counsellor for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, accepted the award on behalf of AFAS at the ceremony in Washington DC on Monday, 19 May 2008.

The award, established in 1990, recognises exceptional leadership, dedication and technical achievements in protecting the Earth’s ozone layer. Award winners are leading by example and inspire other individuals and organisations to make a difference in protecting the environment. '

Since its implementation, AFAS has resulted in a reduction of approximately 95 tonnes of methyl bromide in the past two years from Indonesia and Malaysia alone.

The Offshore Development Team sincerely thanks all of you involved in AFAS. Without the dedicated efforts from each of you this award would not have been possible.

Team Member Profile

Name:
Melessa Lawton

Qualifications:
Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons.), University of Melbourne.

Previous Occupations:
AQIS since 2001 - Airports, Commercial clearances and Offshore Development Unit.

Hobbies:
Bush walking, travelling, knitting, reading, cooking and netball.

Role in ODU:
Policy Development and New Initiatives

AFAS India - Joint Systems Review 2008

The second annual Indian AFAS Joint Systems Review was undertaken in India from 21 April to 2 May 2008.

The Joint Systems Review audit team comprised Daryl Crapp (AQIS), Melessa Lawton (AQIS), Peter Meadows (fumigation specialist) and Indian Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) officers. Seventeen registered companies located in Bangalore, Kolkata and Pune were audited. The audit team was pleased with the commitment shown by fumigators and quarantine officials in addressing problems and improving fumigation practices in India and looks forward to continued improvements.

The audit report and recommendations have been AQIS Heat Treatment Standard Update The AQIS Heat Treatment Standard is now available at: www.aqis.gov.au/AQISheattreatmentstandard. The Standard outlines best practice heat treatment guidelines. sent to the DPPQS for consideration. AQIS wishes to thank the Indian quarantine officials involved and looks forward to working with them in the future.

^{DPPQS officials, fumigation industry representatives and the AQIS India Joint Systems Review team}

AQIS Heat Treatment Standard Update

The AQIS Heat Treatment Standard is now available at: www.aqis.gov.au/AQISheattreatmentstandard. The Standard outlines best practice heat treatment guidelines.

AFAS Philippines Update

In-country Fumigation Training will take place in Manila in August 2008.

AFAS Implementation in Papua New Guinea

In preparation for the upcoming launch of AFAS later this year, AQIS visited PNG in June 2008. As part of the visit AQIS conducted accreditation assessments on the participants from the first two AFAS fumigation training courses delivered by National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA).

The positive results from the assessments demonstrated the high standard of the training delivered by the local training team.

During the visit, officers from NAQIA and AQIS representatives met a number of fumigation treatment providers, three in Port Moresby and four in Lae, to conduct preliminary assessments. This was to identify any issues that would need to be addressed before the providers could be considered eligible for AFAS registration as acceptable methyl bromide fumigation treatment providers.

AFAS Indonesia—Joint Systems Review 2008

The fourth annual Indonesia- Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme Joint Systems Review was undertaken in Indonesia from 22-29 May 2008.

The Joint Systems Review audit team comprised Daryl Crapp (AQIS), Mark King (AQIS), John Field (fumigation specialist) and Indonesian Agriculture and Quarantine Agency (IAQA) officers. Twenty two registered companies located in Makassa, Denpasar and Semarang were audited. AQIS was pleased to note the high level of compliance and congratulates IAQA and the fumigation industry. Most of the Indonesian treatment providers audited in these centres were found to be fumigating to AFAS requirements.

^{IAQA officials and AQIS Indonesian Joint Systems Review team.}

AFAS Photo Album

^{Taking a break from the busy auditing schedule in India.}

^{On rare occasions even AQIS Auditors have time to see historic monuments—Borobudur, Indonesia}

^{One of the many wonderful meals in Kolkata, India}

For further information:

For general AFAS enquiries please contact AFAS

For AQIS import conditions see ICON

For past issues of the AFAS newsletters see website

Postal address:

Offshore Development Unit,
P.O Box 858
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia.