Quarantine Treatments and Fumigants

3.2 Fumigant Penetration

3.2.1 The target of the fumigation must not be wrapped in or coated with materials that are impervious to methyl bromide.

Text has been added to clarify the AQIS perforation requirements, specifically the definition of 100 cm2 (10cm x 10cm square).

Appendix 4: Example of Record of Fumigation

Changes to the example of a record of fumigation have been made in order to simplify the completion of the document while ensuring all required information continues to be recorded. The record of fumigation document is completed by AFAS registered fumigation companies to record details of the AFAS fumigations they conduct for audit purposes.

Appendix 5: Example of a Fumigation Certificate

Changes to the example of a fumigation certificate have been made in order to simplify the information contained within the certificate while ensuring all required information to determine the compliance of the fumigation covered by the certificate continues to be included.
Changes include:
The addition of the ‘target of fumigation’ check boxes to assist fumigators to identify what is covered by the certificate.
Altering of the required treatment details to ensure only necessary fields are included.
Revised format for detailing the method used to conduct the fumigation.
Consolidation of wrapping and timber compliance details into one single statement.

3.1 Fumigant Circulation
3.1.1 There must be sufficient free air space to circulate the fumigant and achieve uniform distribution throughout the enclosure.
3.1.2 Timber must be separated by a minimum of 5mm of air space in one dimension every 200 mm

Changes to the Mandatory and Informative sections have been made to recognise that free air space requirements for effective treatment of a consignment will vary depending on the commodity and the method of packing.
Instead of mandating strict requirements for free airspace above, below and to the sides of consignments the changes recognise that an effective fumigation can be achieved provided that the required concentration of methyl bromide can reach the target of the fumigation. The fumigator can use their judgement to assess the suitability of each consignment and demonstrate that the free airspace is adequate by taking and recording concentration readings from representative points within the enclosure. Where this cannot be demonstrated, alternative arrangements must be made to ensure adequate free airspace is achieved.
The requirement for timber to be separated by a minimum of 5mm in one dimension every 200mm remains the same.

3.2 Fumigant Penetration
3.2.1 The target of the fumigation must not be wrapped in or coated with materials that are impervious to methyl bromide.
3.2.2 Untreated timber products must have at least one physical dimension which is less than 200 mm thick.

Additional clarification on the options available to the fumigator when assessing the suitability of consignments for fumigation and the requirements for fumigation of timber products.

3.2 Impervious wrappings, surfaces and coatings

Additional text in the informative section to clarify the options available to the fumigator when assessing the suitability of the consignment for fumigation.
Prior to fumigation the fumigator should always inspect the consignment to verify that the target of the fumigation has no impervious wrapping, surfaces or coating that may prevent adequate penetration of methyl bromide. Where the content of the container cannot be satisfactorily inspected the fumigator can rely on a written declaration from someone in the export/import chain who knows the contents and how it is packed.
If a written declaration cannot be obtained from an appropriate person then the container needs to be unloaded to allow inspection.

8.1 Monitoring Frequency

The text stating that the first readings must be taken at 30 minutes for 6 hour fumigations and between 30 minutes and 2 hours for longer exposure periods has been removed.
The first readings can be taken as soon as the fumigator considers that equilibrium has been achieved.

8.2 Fumigant levels – Start-point and End-point

Table 2 - Monitoring times
The information about monitoring times for fumigations less than 6 hours in duration has been removed as they are the same for all fumigation that are less than 48 hours in duration.
The requirements for taking the start-point readings has changed to allow readings to be taken as soon as the fumigator thinks equilibrium has been reached. There is no reason to wait any longer than necessary.

8.3 Fumigant concentrations

Text has been added to make it clear that some quarantine treatments may specify higher retention rates of fumigant at the end of the fumigation than what is shown in the Standard. If the retention rate on the treatment directive is higher than the Standard then this is what must be achieved for a successful fumigation.
This relates mainly to fumigation of perishable commodities with short exposure periods.

Appendix 1 - Fumigation of Perishable Commodities

1.3 deleted and numbering corrected