Guidelines to Methyl Bromide Fumigation for Export and Import Consignments

1. Guidelines to Methyl Bromide Fumigation for Export and Import Consignments Ms. I K Warshamana, Head, Treatment Technology Division, National Plant Quarantine Service

2. New Procedure of MeBr Fumigations • Overall responsibility of coordinating the monitoring of MeBr fumigation activities has been entrusted to the Deputy Director of NPQS by Director /SCPPC letter no: SCPPC/AFAS/TECH 2012 dated 03.02.2012.

3. New Procedure of MeBr Fumigations Whether to use MeBr Fumigation done in a container yard/ shippers-go-downs, properly degassed and then transported to seaport DD/NPQS identifies whether fumigation is an official requirement of the destination country Decision making- According to Montreal Protocol Duly filled official request made to DD/ NPQS 3 days prior to shipment. Decision of rejection or permission DD/NPQS will arrange an officer to be sent for supervision If necessary If accepted fumigation Standards are specified authorize the RP-8 if the process is carried out with recommended conditions Or alternative Dosage Duration

4. Fumigation RequestFormat

5. Errors • Incomplete requests • Country of destination is not mentioned • The name of the commodity- Confused… • Whether you need supervision • Purpose of MeBr fumigation- QPS or OTHER • Date of degassing is not mentioned • Date of export……. ???? • Packing material – state the condition • Contact information of the person who handle… • Proposed time of fumigation …………..necessary

6. Date of fumigation and Degassing - Not indicated This is very important in monitoring the fumigation activities Because “DEGASSING ” -is a vital activity in fumigation -AQIS needs monitoring of MeBr levels @ certain intervals of the fumigation process Country of destination - not indicated How do we find destination country requirements!!!!!!!!!!!!! Proposed date of export – not indicated We get huge number of requests per day How do we prioritize!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INCOMPLETE REQUESTS Name of the treatment provider – not given How do we find the proper treatment provider to send our recommendation Time of fumigation is also important if you need fumigation supervision

7. Please!!!!!!! Mark whether you need supervision or not How do you know whether you need supervision or not If the phytosanitory certificate should certify that your commodity is fumigated with MeBr YES you need supervision Some packing material are impermeable to MeBr “Compactness” determines the exposure level to the MeBr treatment and hence the required dosage If you need supervision you have to inform NPQS (Main office), Katunayake “Packing material” and “packing status” is very important

8. If you need to fumigate wooden pellet/ packing material  That is the “commodity” for MeBr fumigation Example: You are exporting food stuff in cardboard boxes Your export commodity: food stuff Your fumigation commodity: cardboard box In general (except for special requirements), food stuff are not fumigated with poisonous MeBr If you do not clearly indicate the commodity, your request may be rejected In the MeBr fumigation request : “Commodity” means The commodity that you are going to fumigate

9. Contact number has not mentioned Why it is so important ???? MOST OF YOU send us the request on the same day that the fumigation activity is scheduled If there’s any problem we need to clarify, we have to contact you !!!!! Do you aware of the option “purpose of MeBr use”???

10. with respect to methyl bromide Quarantine purposes -means the treatment is done to prevent the introduction, establishment and/or spread of quarantine pests - to ensure their official control (Official control : activities performed /authorized by, a national authority of plant, animal, environmental protection or health) -to meet the official requirements of the importing country or the exporting country (Official requirements :are requirements stated by, a national authority of plant, animal, environmental, health /stored product) Pre-shipment purposes -are non-quarantine applications done within 21 days prior to export

11. OTHER!!!! Other purposes: • If not a Quarantine purpose or pre-shipment purposeOTHER • If it is Quarantine or pre-shipment purpose -the import permit gives you the relevant guidelines If you have a copy of Import permit or any other official guideline of MeBr fumigation requirement Please attach it with the request That will be a great help for us in the future as well !!!

12. This exporter has attached the destination Country requirements With the request - Made our responsibility less-troublesome -Made decision making easy -Quick response to the exporter A complete request makes our job easy A complete request Carefully filled to give us maximum information

13. Country Requirements • The NPPOs of the importing countries were contacted to get their MeBr fumigation requirements. • Following are the comments received…….

14. Wood (except for logs) & Coir products • For all countries • 48g/ m3 24 hrs

15. Germany • Methyl bromide treatment is banned • They do not require the import consignments to be fumigated with MeBr • Methyl bromide fumigation is not a requirement for Germany (for the plants and plant products )

16. Japan • Does not require Metheyl Bromide fumigation for import consignments from Sri Lanka. • If quarantine pests are detected by Japan NPPO, the consignment should be subject to quarantine measures Disinfestations (Methyl Bromide fumigation) Destructions (incineration) or Re-shipping • Get your consignment tested and confirmed, for absence of pests by submitting a sample NPQS prior to the export

17. Peru Methyl Bromide fumigation requirements for some of the commodities imported from Sri Lanka to Peru as follows: 1. Cinamomumverum(cinnamon), natural dry whole bark: and 2. Syzygiumaromaticum (clove), natural dry flower buds: Methyl Bromide : • 40 g/m³ for 12h (T ≥ 32°C) • 56 g/m³ for 12h (27°C ≤ T ≤ 31°C) • 72 g/m³ for12h (21°C ≤ T ≤ 26°C)

18. Peru • Peumusboldus, (boldo) natural dry leaves: Methyl Bromide : • 64 g/m³ for 12h (T ≥ 32°C) • 96 g/m³ for 12h (27°C ≤ T ≤ 31°C) • 128 g/m³ for12h (21°C ≤ T ≤ 26°C) • Straw, dry fiber: Methyl Bromide : • 40 g/m³ for 12h (T ≥ 32°C) • 56 g/m³ for 12h (27°C ≤ T ≤ 31°C) • 72 g/m³ for12h (21°C ≤ T ≤ 26°C)

19. Mauritus • Following products are imported from Sri Lanka:(i) Dehusked coconuts(ii) Cocopeat abd derived products(iii) Ekel brooms • Methyl Bromide 48g/m3 for 24 hours over 21oC

20. Australia • According to AQIS standards at 210C or above • Vegetables - 32g/ m3 for 24 hrs • Cotton - 32g/ m3 for 24 hrs • Wooden pallets – 48g/ m3 for 24 hrs • Coir - 48g/ m3 for 24 hrs • Sesame seed - 80g/ m3 for 48 hrs • Treatment for Trogoderma granarium (Khapra beetle)– 80 g/ m3 for 48 hrs • Giant African snail – 128 g/ m3 for 24 hrs

21. Switzerland • Switzerland phased out MeBr for QPS purposes anymore • Heat treatment is performed • It is up to you to choose the appropriate method • However, standard for MeBr treatment for wood packaging material: phytosanitary measures as specified in the ISPM-15

22. USA & Canada USA • Cinnamon, Cardamom ( any spice) - 32g/m3 - 2 hrs • Wooden pallets - According to ISPM 15 • Coir - 48 g/m3 24 hrs Canada • Wheat granules/ Coffee/ Cocoa -48 g/m3 24 hrs • spices- 24g/m3 16 hrs • For Khapra beetle – 96 g/m3 24 hrs

23. Ireland • The use of Methyl Bromide is banned in the EU for a number of years and therefore the EU does not require the treatment of any product with methyl bromide in order to be permitted entry. However there is no problem in accepting products treated with Methyl Bromide from outside the EU if used elsewhere for quarantine purposes.

24. Slovakia • Slovakia, as other EU member states, accept MrBr treated pallets, but the use of MB within the territory of EU is not allowed. • The conditions of MB treatment should be in accordance with ISPM 15.

25. Liberia • Liberia has stop the use of MeBr as chemical treatment for all agricultural commodities intended for export, import and internal use in the agro-sector since 2010. • The alternative chemical for fumigation is "Phostoxin 56% (aluminum phosphates)".

26. Mozambique • Use of Methyl bromide fumigation is approved for quarantine purpose. • Therefore wood package and pallets materials imported to Mozambique are required to be fumigated with MeBr or • Heat treatment according to ISPM Nr 15 from IPPC.

27. When we get information from other countries - We will summarize the data - Publish the list in our web site www.agridept.gov.lk - Send you the e-link via email (Please give us your contact details)

28. For any clarification Contact us:  Deputy Director, National Plant Quarantine Service, Canada Friendship Road, Katunayake  011-2252028 or 011-2252029  011-2253709  npqssl@gmail.com

29. THANK YOU