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External Cleanliness Standards of International Shipping Containers
2. Scope
3. Definitions
4. External container inspection procedures
1. Purpose
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) carries out external inspections of imported cargo containers to determine the extent of contamination that is considered a quarantine risk.
This paper provides a guide to AQIS container external cleanliness standards for the international shipping and forwarding trade.
2. Scope
This paper sets out acceptable and unacceptable cleanliness standards. Containers not meeting acceptable standards are required to undergo cleaning treatment before release. The final decision on acceptable cleanliness standards rests with the inspecting AQIS officer.
Soil: a mixture of organic and inorganic material capable of sustaining life.
Contamination: Presence on a container of prohibited quarantine material including but not limited to soil and extraneous animal and plant material. Examples of contaminants could include soil, plant material, insects, birds, bird nests and unhatched eggs, animals and animal faeces.
Infestation: The presence of live or dead, whole or part of insects, mites, spiders or other animals, including but not limited to giant African snails (GAS) and Asian gypsy moth (AGM).
4. External container inspection procedures
4.1 Selecting a container for inspection
As part of the increased quarantine intervention arrangements, AQIS is required by Government to inspect the external surfaces of all containers that exit container terminals and wharf areas. This is in addition to the continued inspection of all material of quarantine concern. In short, the Government requires AQIS to undertake the highest level of quarantine intervention and inspection of containers.
4.2 Inspecting the container
Officers pay particular attention to the following areas
- Along bottom rails of containers;
- Within forklift pockets;
- In and around the twistlock fittings;
- The underside of containers and cross members
-
The top of containers
4.2.1 Nil impediments
The following frames are indicative examples of containers with no soil, organic or dried plant material, animal material, or infestations present.
The following frames are examples of 'soil splash' which is a thin film of soil material less than 2mm in depth and not harbouring seeds or other extraneous plant or animal material that adheres to container panels. These containers are not considered a quarantine risk because the soil contamination is minimal.
4.2.2 Low level contamination
The following are examples of low level soil contamination. Essentially low level contamination can be defined as small amounts of soil of sufficient depth that can be easily removed by the AQIS officer at the time of inspection without the need for further cleaning. While these containers are released at the wharf, they are considered a quarantine risk as the soil may contain extraneous plant or animal material. These containers are recorded as 'contaminated' for statistical purposes.
4.2.3 High level contamination
The following frames are examples of containers with high level contamination. A high level of soil contamination is defined as being of such a depth and quantity that the inspecting AQIS officer cannot easily remove the soil adhering to the container, is inaccessible, is of a high volume or quantity and is imbedded or attached to a degree that only mechanical (high pressure cleaning) method can be employed to remove contamination. Containers with high level soil contamination, or with an infestation of live insects, mites, spiders, GAS or AGM may require fumigation and/or will require cleaning and are directed to an AQIS approved facility.
For further information, please contact:
Import Clearance
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service,
GPO Box 858,
Canberra, ACT 2601
Telephone: +61 2 6272 4446
Fax: +61 2 6272 5888
E-mail: Import Web