Fumigations

Many countries have requirements for certain commodities to be fumigated prior to export. The importing countries may require the fumigation provider to issue fumigation certificates that clearly states the treatment details that has been fumigated on the commodity.

Our Malaysian Government is committed to addressing the issue of ineffective quarantine fumigations on its exports. Malaysia has established a Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (MAFAS Scheme) for export fumigators to ensure that all quarantine fumigations are undertaken in accordance with world’s best practice as outlined in the Australian Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard

Import/ Export/ Quarantine Fumigation

Many pests threaten our agricultural production so any fumigation of imported goods need to be done to exacting standards and are subject to rigorous audits by government bodies. Similarly, we rely heavily on our exports to overseas customers, so certain products need to be fumigated carefully to ensure that they are not only pest free but are in no way affected by fumigant residues.

Our team of highly trained and qualified fumigation experts is helping Malaysia’s economy on a daily basis to meet the critical needs of MAFAS Quarantine, Ministry Of Forestry, AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service), ISPM (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures), and many others.

Fumigation companies must have an accredited fumigator present at all fumigations sites. Fumigation companies with accredited fumigators are allocated with a unique identification number. The number will be given after the fumigation company is assessed and accredited by the Department of Agriculture Malaysia. Fumigation companies must record the number on all treatment certification and correspondence to Department of Agriculture Malaysia.

Commodity Fumigation

Rentokil offers fumigation of general goods such as bulk foodstuffs (grains, cereals etc), packaging, timber and furniture to treat a wide variety of pests. Fumigants include Methyl Bromide, Phosphine as well as our inert fumigants (below)

Fumigation of High Risk Products

Many precious artifacts, relics and photos of specialist products are adversely affected by the common fumigants. Rentokil is the world leader in the technology of fumigation with Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide.

These fumigants are far more environmentally friendly and less toxic but a high degree of skill and specialized equipment are required to offer this service.

Rentokil has used this technology throughout the world, from centuries old artifacts to Royal residences

Introduction

If you are in the export business, you would probably have heard of ISPM 15 by now. If you haven’t, this is the opportunity to educate yourself.

Non-compliance to ISPM 15 can quickly slow down your export-bound goods departing from your premises in Malaysia. Worst still, your consignment may be jeopardized in a foreign country upon arrival.

To protect Malaysia’s exports, the Crop Protection Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture has advised fumigation companies like Rentokil Initial, on the procedures to achieve full compliance to ISPM 15.

Malaysian exporters are duty-bound to comply, and thereby maintain Malaysia’s credibility as an exporting nation, abiding by Quarantine rules.

Rentokil Pest Control is a registered company for the purposes of ISPM 15. Our services are available to all exporters.

What Is ISPM 15?

This is an international guideline adopted by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in March 2002.

It stands for International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, Publication 15, and focuses on the treatment specifications for raw timber so as to destroy all insects living within the material.

What is the purpose of ISPM 15?

There are 2 objectives:

When fully implemented, ISPM 15 will slow down and eventually stop the spread of insects which live within raw, untreated timber, from being transferred across national borders.

Ineffective fumigations can impact severely on Malaysian export trade by putting in question the product integrity of Malaysian agricultural exports.

Presently, many fumigations for containerized cargo are not up to quarantine standards for various reasons. ISPM 15 hopes to address this issue.

Does it affect you, the Exporter?

Most likely yes. Ask yourself:

ISPM 15 applies to coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood) raw wood packaging material.

Do you routinely export to North America, the European Union, or China?

Do you pack the containers using Wood Packing Material (WPM = wooden pallets, dunnages, skids, crates, boxes etc.)?

If you answered Yes in both instances, you need ISPM 15 treatments before you pack goods into a container for export.

Will the adoption of ISPM 15 affect me?

If you are involved in the export of commodities of any kind into countries that have implemented ISPM 15 and use wooden packaging material in the transportation of these commodities then you will have to comply with the standard.

What happens if I fail to comply?

3 things can happen to your consignment of goods at the destination country:

The WPM in the container is destroyed.

The container and its contents are re-fumigated following ISPM 15 guidelines before the cargo is allowed to proceed further.

The container and its contents are rejected, and sent back to the country of origin.

Compliance will entail some additional forward planning on your part. This planning will ensure your cargo arrives un-impeded, and will survive any quarantine inspections targeted specifically towards the enforcement of ISPM 15.

How close is my export business to complying by ISPM 15 guidelines?

To achieve the criteria of ISPM 15, the fumigation must be carried out more stringently. This requires that our clients be aware of Rentokil’s technical requirements, and extend their whole-hearted cooperation.

Remember unless you re-organise to comply, you will fail to comply.