A Fumigation Certificate for Wood-Packing and the Entire Cargo in International Shipping

Announcement on shipping from the USA to Australia and New Zealand!

Since 2019, during BMSB seasons, from September 1st to April 30th of each year, carriers will not load freight to Oceania unless a valid fumigation certificate is provided. Otherwise, cargo can be fumigated at a carrier's facility. The standard treatment fee is approximately $30 per Cubic Meter (~35 Cubic Feet), with a minimum of $150-$300 per shipment, depending on the carrier.

The cost of the treatment is not included in quotes obtained with our online freight calculator and will be added to the sea freight carrier's international shipping cost.

If a shipper opts to fumigate with a carrier, the carrier's fumigation declaration, along with the treatment request, must be returned before the load is delivered to the sea carrier terminal (CFS). The fumigation declaration will be attached to our email with instructions.

If a shipment is scheduled to arrive in Australia or New Zealand during the BMSB season and the shipper does not provide a valid fumigation certificate or declines to fumigate their cargo with the carrier, we cannot process or ship the cargo. 

Wood-packing and Fumigation in International Shipping

International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15) is the global standard concerning wooden packaging. It was introduced in March 2002 to eliminate the worldwide trade impediments caused by a complex web of import restrictions on wooden packaging. ISPM 15 stipulates, among other things, that wooden packaging must be treated to prevent the spread of vermin.

Wood-packing treated in accordance with ISPM requirements must be branded with the official IPPC mark. This mark cancels out the need for a phytosanitary certificate. If the wood does not comply with ISPM 15 standards upon arrival at the destination port, customs may confiscate, return, or destroy the cargo. Either the shipper or the consignee will be charged for these costs.

For international shipping from the U.S., unless you use raw wood in packaging or are exporting to countries of Oceania, the fumigation certificate is usually not a mandatory export document. However, as long as required, it assists in the quarantine clearance of imported goods upon arrival at the destination.

A certified fumigator should complete the treatment of exporting the commodity before departure. Unless a carrier accepts responsibility under ISPM 15, loads must comply with the regulations before being delivered to an ocean freight carrier's terminal (Container Freight Station - CFS).

A fumigation certificate, also known as a 'pest control certificate,' is used in global cargo transportation from the United States.

IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW THAT A FUMIGATION CERTIFICATE MAY APPLY TO WOODEN PACKAGING ONLY OR THE ENTIRE CARGO.

• When it comes to wooden packing, the packing materials are typically heat-treated, but the commodity is not treated.
• When it applies to the entire cargo, it indicates that all the cargo, including the commodity and packing materials, was fumigated or sterilized. The treatment used includes details such as the temperature range, chemicals, and concentration, among others.

Do Not Confuse Wood Packing With Cargo Fumigation

1. Wood Packing Requirements

The treatment is only required for raw wood. Materials such as cardboard, plywood, plastic, and man-made wood (e.g., particleboard) should not be treated. These are processed at high heat and pressure, killing any pests.

Wood must be treated to prevent pests and branded with the IPPC stamp, which replaces the need for a phytosanitary certificate.

Certified ISPM 15-stamped wood is accepted. Due to ISPM 15 compliance, plastic pallets or crates are also widely used.

If packaging doesn't comply, customs may confiscate, return, or destroy cargo at the shipper's or consignee’s expense.

2. Cargo Fumigation

Countries like Australia and New Zealand may still require treatment of the entire shipment, especially for high-risk goods, regardless of the packaging being compliant.

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) Regulations for International Shipping to Oceania

Ocean freight carriers follow the guidelines of DAWR (Australia) and MPI (New Zealand) for BMSB treatment.

Shippers must consult with consignees or customs brokers to determine risk and compliance. The consignee is charged for non-compliance.

High-risk shipments must be treated before loading. If one item in a consolidated container is high-risk, the entire container is treated as high-risk.

Upon receiving a standard carrier's BMSB declaration form, shippers must:

• Review BMSB requirements
• Assess cargo risk
• Complete and sign the BMSB declaration 
• Submit the declaration

In short, the BMSB regulation requires that all shipments deemed high-risk by DAWR and MPI standards be treated before loading from countries with high-risk origins. The USA is on the list. With consolidated freight, the rule states that if one shipment in the container is considered high-risk, the entire container is regarded as high-risk.
 
For this reason, ocean carriers will require that all shippers review the international shipping requirements to determine the risk associated with their shipment and determine whether the cargo requires fumigation. Ocean carriers will require a signed declaration from the shipper before considering any shipment for loading.
 
Typically, ocean carriers will be providing treatment for LCL at load ports and gateways, and the following measures will be in effect:

• A completed BMSB form will be required for all shipments.
• For LCL shipments deemed HIGH RISK by the DAWR or MPI, a fee of $30 per Cubic Meter (~35 Cubic Feet) will typically be applied, with a minimum fee of $150-$300 per shipment, depending on the carrier. 
• Sulfuryl Fluoride will be the treatment used.
• If your shipment is deemed sensitive to the fumigant and CANNOT be fumigated, ocean freight carriers may offer non-fumigated services based on availability.

Please do not ignore it! Below is just a sample of correspondence on a shipment to Australia. The shipper was unable to provide a valid fumigation certificate at the destination.
 
…the fumigation certificate is incorrectly declared … The treatment was completed over the weekend, and Quarantine released the container today. The container should be unpacked and available for collection in the next day or two. Please note that the freight will not be released until these charges are paid.

 

 

For FCL freight, shippers must request fumigation charges in advance.

 

Australian and New Zealand Quarantine Regulations

Australia and New Zealand are the most restricted countries. For more information, refer to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website.

Timber-bearing insects pose a significant quarantine risk when shipping to Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, all timber used in FCL containers shipping from the USA, including the exposed timber components of the container itself, must be treated before the container can be considered for immediate release.

Quarantine concerns timber pests during international shipping and the cleanliness of sea freight containers.

All conditions prescribed by the quarantine and customs authorities for global transportation must be met before any freight can be removed from a terminal or breakbulk depot.

General

The following steps should be taken to ensure prompt delivery of goods shipping from the USA to Australia and New Zealand without detention by the Quarantine Authorities:

• All ocean freight bills have a code indicating the wood used in packing or securing cargo in containers. Suppose the wood is used in containers to be shipped to Australia. In that case, all documentation must include a packing declaration with a fumigation certificate for the container or a treatment certificate for the wood used.
• For FCL containers, if the goods are not subject to quarantine inspection and the timber components, such as the floor and linings, have been treated by an acceptable method. The container is free to move anywhere, provided the packaging meets quarantine requirements and the container is clean.
• Regarding practicality, timber and alternative materials such as cardboard, plastic, new jute, or metals should be avoided for international shipping to Australia and New Zealand. Suppose timber crates, cases, pallets, or dunnage are used. In that case, the timber should have been treated using one of the methods approved by Australia/New Zealand Plant Quarantine.
• The container must be clean and free from soil, plant, and animal contaminants such as grains, flour, meat, bones, hides, and skin.
• Straw packing, rice hulls, and similar plant materials are prohibited for international shipping from the United States and should not be used as packing material for any shipments. Alternative materials such as shredded paper, wood wool, or synthetic materials are acceptable, provided they are not contaminated with the material, which could be a quarantine risk.

Whenever possible, containers are cleared through quarantine on documentation. Still, several are inspected at the importer's premises to verify this documentation. Where infringements of quarantine requirements are found, all subsequent consignments from that exporter may be directed to a depot for clearance. Apart from the delay and all the possible prejudice to subsequent shipments, all remedial action costs will be charged to the consignee.

From this web link, you may download and view an Australian Wood-packing declaration.

International Shipping from the USA Utilizing LCL

Containers carrying sea freight for delivery to approved break-bulk depots, where regular quarantine inspections can be undertaken, do not necessarily have to meet any special requirements. However, the treatment will be undertaken if an infestation is found in the wooden crates or cases. The cost to the exporter, in the form of treatment charges, delays, and inconvenience, may well outweigh the small additional costs of using treated timber when making up the crates and cases.

OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON CARGO CONTAINING WOOD-PACKING MATERIALS:

For your guidance, we would also draw your attention to the following additional restrictions on transporting goods from the USA to Australia and New Zealand:

(a) Treatment of household goods and personal effects will not permit the immediate release of containers. Containers carrying these goods must pass through an approved depot for unpacking, and the treatment of such assets is subject to quarantine.

(b) Containers must be free from soil, plant material, and contamination from animal products. The inside and outside of containers are thoroughly cleaned before shipment to remove contamination. This could alleviate the need for expensive and time-consuming quarantine treatments. All containers detected entering Australia and New Zealand are treated before release.

(c) Any material of plant origin or likely to carry any disease or pests of plants is subject to quarantine. International shipping of some items is prohibited except with a special permit. Containers of agricultural products originating from the UK and the NW Continent (now the Khapra beetle area) must be accompanied by a packer's certificate of container cleanliness before packing, a fumigation certificate for the empty container (not required if the container is not lined), and a phytosanitary certificate.

(d) Items such as motor vehicles or agricultural machinery contaminated with soil must be cleaned before release. Steam cleaning before shipment will ensure the freight is in an acceptable condition upon arrival, but this cannot be guaranteed.

(e) Phostoxin is the proprietary name for aluminum phosphide. It is applied in solid form, usually as tablets, and relies on a reaction with moisture in the air to release phosphine gas. Use is limited and commonly where a commodity is known to have an adverse reaction with methyl bromide. PLEASE NOTE: It can only be used as a commodity fumigant and is not an accepted timber treatment method for deliveries to Australia or New Zealand.

Wood Packaging and Fumigation Procedures for Shipping Container (FCL)

To ensure that no expensive delays happen to your cargo on arrival and to ensure that it is immediately released for onward movement into the country, we recommend that you take the following precautions:

(1) If using your own or leasing a container, ensure that its exposed timber components have been permanently treated to the Quarantine Authorities' requirements and that the container is registered with them. Otherwise, the containers must be fumigated within 21 days before use.

(2) Where possible, do not use any wood for pallets, packaging, dunnage, or securing materials if you can find suitable alternative arrangements not subject to quarantine regulations, for example, paper products, cardboard, plastic products, fibreboard, cardboard, metal, clean dry used motor tires, inflatable dunnage, wood-wool, and metal or plastic strapping. Chipboards, plywood, and particleboard are also suitable, provided they are new and manufactured in Canada, Europe, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, or the USA.

Limited timber products are not acceptable; neither are materials such as straw, rice hulls, or similar plant materials.

(3) Where wood is used for pallets, packaging, dunnage, or securing material, then it must meet quarantine requirements in one of two ways:

(i) Be permanently treated with approved preservatives such as copper-chromium-arsenic salts or copper-chromium-boron salts.
(ii) It must be temporarily disinfected using one of the approved methods below. Timber treated by one of these methods must be packed in a container or shipped within 21 days of the treatment date.
(a) Methyl Bromide fumigation
(b) Sulphuryl Fluoride (Vikane)
(c) Heat or kiln sterilization
(d) Steaming
(e) Immersion in a hot liquid

Further information may be obtained by consulting the following publications available from your local ACA Containers Office:

(a) Cargo Containers – Quarantine Aspects and Procedures. Australian Quarantine Service.

(b) Summary of Australian Plant and Animal Quarantine Requirements in international shipping. Australian Quarantine Service.

(c) Requirements for sea freight Containers and Containerised Cargo. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. New Zealand Forest Service.

METHOD: METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION

Methyl bromide fumigation is the most practical and economical method for treating timber. Loaded containers may be fumigated to treat their exposed timber components, timber packaging, or cargo. ACA International can arrange for your container to be fumigated if you require this service or if your quarantine documents are not in order upon arrival of your cargo.

The treatment contractor must complete and sign a fumigation certificate for transportation to Australia or New Zealand. The contractor must comply with the ACOP (Approved Code of Practice) to control substances hazardous to health.

The shipper must complete the quarantine declaration section of the Export Cargo Instructions for coding on the manifest (IEF).

The shipper will forward certificates and declarations for importing timber treatment to the consignee with invoices or export documents.

Where treatment has been carried out by ACA International or their agent on behalf of the shipper, fumigation certificates will be forwarded centrally.