Quarantine Treatments and Fumigants
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Treatments applied for quarantine purposes are part of managing the risk of introducing exotic pests and diseases, however only when conducted correctly is the treatment deemed to be effective.
The AQIS Standards outline best practice methodologies for applying quarantine treatments. This information gives treatment providers, both in Australia and overseas, the necessary information to understand AQIS requirements to effectively treat consignments for import into Australia.
AQIS quarantine treatments and fumigants
AQIS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard v1.5 - 15 July 2010 
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AQIS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard v1.5 - 15 July 2010 
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Summary of minor changes to the AQIS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard
The following minor changes have been made to the AQIS Methyl Bromide Fumigation Standard to clarify and simplify some requirements of the Standard. Below is a description of the changes made.
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Section |
Change |
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3.1 Fumigant Circulation 3.1.1 There must be sufficient free air space to circulate the fumigant and achieve uniform distribution throughout the enclosure. 3.1.2 Timber must be separated by a minimum of 5mm of air space in one dimension every 200 mm |
Changes to the Mandatory and Informative sections have been made to recognise that free air space requirements for effective treatment of a consignment will vary depending on the commodity and the method of packing. Instead of mandating strict requirements for free airspace above, below and to the sides of consignments the changes recognise that an effective fumigation can be achieved provided that the required concentration of methyl bromide can reach the target of the fumigation. The fumigator can use their judgement to assess the suitability of each consignment and demonstrate that the free airspace is adequate by taking and recording concentration readings from representative points within the enclosure. Where this cannot be demonstrated, alternative arrangements must be made to ensure adequate free airspace is achieved. The requirement for timber to be separated by a minimum of 5mm in one dimension every 200mm remains the same. |
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3.2 Fumigant Penetration 3.2.1 The target of the fumigation must not be wrapped in or coated with materials that are impervious to methyl bromide. 3.2.2 Untreated timber products must have at least one physical dimension which is less than 200 mm thick. |
Additional clarification on the options available to the fumigator when assessing the suitability of consignments for fumigation and the requirements for fumigation of timber products. |
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Section |
Change |
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3.2 Impervious wrappings, surfaces and coatings |
Additional text in the informative section to clarify the options available to the fumigator when assessing the suitability of the consignment for fumigation. Prior to fumigation the fumigator should always inspect the consignment to verify that the target of the fumigation has no impervious wrapping, surfaces or coating that may prevent adequate penetration of methyl bromide. Where the content of the container cannot be satisfactorily inspected the fumigator can rely on a written declaration from someone in the export/import chain who knows the contents and how it is packed. If a written declaration cannot be obtained from an appropriate person then the container needs to be unloaded to allow inspection. |
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8.1 Monitoring Frequency |
The text stating that the first readings must be taken at 30 minutes for 6 hour fumigations and between 30 minutes and 2 hours for longer exposure periods has been removed. The first readings can be taken as soon as the fumigator considers that equilibrium has been achieved. |
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8.2 Fumigant levels – Start-point and End-point |
Table 2 - Monitoring times The information about monitoring times for fumigations less than 6 hours in duration has been removed as they are the same for all fumigation that are less than 48 hours in duration. The requirements for taking the start-point readings has changed to allow readings to be taken as soon as the fumigator thinks equilibrium has been reached. There is no reason to wait any longer than necessary. |
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8.3 Fumigant concentrations |
Text has been added to make it clear that some quarantine treatments may specify higher retention rates of fumigant at the end of the fumigation than what is shown in the Standard. If the retention rate on the treatment directive is higher than the Standard then this is what must be achieved for a successful fumigation. This relates mainly to fumigation of perishable commodities with short exposure periods. |
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Appendix 1 - Fumigation of Perishable Commodities |
1.3 deleted and numbering corrected |