Wrapping and Perforation Standard

Standard

Gas impervious materials (plastic wraps, cellophane, mono cellular polyfoam materials – e.g. polystyrene foam sheet, film, shrink wrap, aluminium foil and papers that are tarred or waxed, laminated, or waterproofed) that meet AQIS perforation requirements do not need to be slashed, opened, cut or removed. To meet AQIS perforation requirements for fumigation, impervious materials must contain not less than four (4) perforations of 6mm diameter/100 sq cm or five (5) perforations of 5mm diameter/100 sq cm. Plastic wraps containing numerous pinholes (at least 6 holes per sq cm), frequently used for transportation of fruit and vegetables are also acceptable.

Note: Regularly shaped timber or timber related or highly finished and planed timber products (e.g. doors, table tops) with smooth surfaces can prevent gas circulation when wrapped and stacked on the top of each other. Such products must be fumigated prior to wrapping or stacked individually with proper spacing during fumigation to allow effective gas circulation even if perforated plastic wraps are being used to wrap the commodity.

Informative

Commodities which may contain quarantine pests and which are covered with or packaged in ‘gas impervious materials’ (materials that the gas cannot pass through) such as plastic wrapping or laminated plastic films, mono cellular polyfoam materials – e.g. polystyrene foam sheet, aluminium foil, tarred or waxed paper, must have the impervious material opened, cut, perforated or removed prior to fumigation. This must be sufficient to allow both adequate gas penetration into the commodities and effective ventilation (airing).

Plastic wrapping does not need to be cut or removed prior to fumigation if it conforms to the AQIS wrapping and perforation standard.

Timber products that are to be treated with methyl bromide must be fumigated before any surface coating such as lacquering or paint is applied unless the product has at least one unpainted surface and a maximum thickness of 100mm from the unpainted/unlacquered surface.