Quarantine Fumigation

In today’s economy, it is a common practise for businesses to transport goods and commodities between countries via shipment or aircraft. In the process of goods import or export, it provides pests many opportunities to infest the cargo and enter into the country. Quarantine fumigation is conducted to keep these disease carrying pests from doing so.

Quarantine fumigation is required based on cargo carried and countries export to. There are mainly 2 quarantine fumigation carried out in Malaysia:

• Vessel Fumigation
• Container Fumigation

Fumigating shipping containers is usually a standard protocol for many countries to prevent pests that carry diseases from entering. There are 2 types of container fumigation which is categorised by the volume of shipment goods, mainly full container load and loose container load fumigation

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  Full Container Load Fumigation

  Full Container Load (FCL) fumigation is conducted for goods that fill up an entire container. The container is fumigated and help for a minimum period before being ventilated.

  As fumigants are controlled chemicals, improper fumigation practices might reclassify all goods into dangerous goods, which will incur further costs and waiting time.

  That’s why engaging with a trusted fumigation company is crucial. A fumigation certificate is issued for all treated contents and the container by Rentokil to assure all proper procedures were followed.

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  Loose Container Load Fumigation

  Loose Container Load fumigation refers to the fumigation of small packages that would not fill the entire container. The fumigation process is largely the same as full container load fumigation, except the items are kept separate.

Pest infestation is not uncommon on-board vessels and ships, it is essential to take charge of the situation to eliminate pests especially rats, as part of legal requirements. Prior to conducting vessel fumigation, it is necessary to vacate risk areas and ensure that effort has been made to seal all openings to prevent the fumigant used from escaping.

Re-entry into the fumigation area is only allowed when it has been declared safe and free of gas by the fumigators-in-charge. This is after tests are carried out to confirm the gas concentration level is below OES (Occupational Exposure Standard).