Import containers to be fumigated as Australia enforces Khapra beetle rules

Regulations requiring import containers from 40 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa to be fumigated to prevent the migration of Khapra beetles into Australia will be enforced from today.

 

All containers from 40 designated countries, listed by Australia’s Department for Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE), will need to be treated either using methyl bromide, heat treatment or pesticides, and to be issued with a valid certificate before leaving the port of export, from 12 July.

Khapra beetles can devastate indigenous crops and economies if they get a foothold in a country and the new measures have been designed to prevent that migration from taking place.

According to the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) the system now being implemented by Australian authorities will act as a pilot project to developing systems to prevent the spread of many other invasive species that have been identified.

Senior GSF executive James Hookham told The Loadstar that the push to tackle the threat posed by invasive species will increase, and that the industry will need to find a way to meet the challenges in combatting the spread of unwanted guests hitching a ride either in or on containers of all types.

Some 220m containers are transported globally every year and the potential for disruption of supply chains because of the need to clean boxes could prove costly as well as time-consuming, slowing supply chains down.

The carrier representative, the World Shipping Council, estimates that the costs associated with cleaning containers could cost the container shipping industry up to $20bn per year.

Reference: The Load Star


Related News

Port of Oakland receives US$1.2 billion funding for hydrogen projects
Port of Oakland receives US$1.2 billion funding for hydrogen projects

Federal and state funding is on the way for hydrogen projects at the Port of Oakland. This is because the Biden administration announced on 13 October that California will receive up to US$1.2 billion as a designated hydrogen centre.

Long Beach reports box decline in September
Long Beach reports box decline in September

Port of Long Beach (POLB) saw its container volumes decrease slightly by 0.9% in September to 741,823 TEUs.

Air charter market struggles with lack of large-capacity aircraft
Air charter market struggles with lack of large-capacity aircraft

As AirBridgeCargo (ABC) looks to find ways to keep its metal in the air, the charter market is looking thin.


main.add_cart_success