If you’re involved in cargo shipment, you’ll be required to secure a Fumigation Certification. Also referred to as a certificate for pest control, this document is necessary as it confirms that the wooden materials that are being used for packing in cargo shipment including pallets have gone through proper fumigation.
Included in the document are specific details on the treatment procedures that were carried out, the type of fumigants that were used, the specific temperature level for the product involved as well as the length of time that the fumigants were used for.
When and why is fumigation necessary?
Fumigation must be carried out because wood materials may contain harmful pests and insects that could endanger the forests in the respective countries that the shipments are headed to. These things can live inside the timber wood and can live there for a long time, albeit undetected.
This is why getting the wood treated is crucial. It is for this reason that businesses that are in the industry of internationally importing products must secure the certificate to prove that treatment has been carried out.
The process involves the use of poisonous gas that is aimed at killing pest that may be lurking inside wood that has to be shipped internationally. Fumigations are mandatory for all wood materials that are being internationally shipped.
However, products that are only wood-derived as in the case of particleboards, cardboards, or other wood-derived man-made products aren’t required to undergo one. It’s for this reason that many importers choose to use plastic packing materials to avoid the hassle of having to secure the certificate.
How does fumigation work?
Pest control manufacturer X-Pest told us that “Fumigation is performed in order to prevent termites, pests, and various other harmful organisms from infesting other wooden materials.” This is critical in international importation to ensure that exotic organisms will not be transferred into possible hosts.
The pests are suffocated and poisoned during the process. Due to the use of harmful gasses, it is important that the fumigation is only carried out by a licensed fumigator. Permission to carry out the fumigation also needs to be secured from the responsible authorities. It is a requirement that most countries implement for strict compliance on all imported goods. Without a fumigation certificate, you may not be allowed to import goods that use wooden packing materials.
Fumigation is a critical part of the shipping-container cycle. If you are a US buyer and the container you’ve imported has been stamped for USDA examination, this means that it has to undergo an evaluation that will check for the possible presence of pests and other infestations in the cargo. If the cargo has been successfully fumigated and you have the certificate to show, then you will feel at ease that passing the exam shouldn’t be a problem.
If you have goods that are shipped and packed in wooden materials, it is smart to have the supplier fumigate the cargo first. They also need to provide you with a fumigation certificate on top of the export documents to ensure that everything else is in order.
Alternatives to Wooden Packing
If you’d wish to avoid the inconvenience and hassle involved with securing a fumigation certificate for wooden packing materials, going for plastic ones is a good idea. This means using plastic crates and pallets and various other similar items. Wood-based products that are hand-made is also another option to look into. This includes blockboard, plywood, cardboard boxes as well as hardboard can also be other options to make note of.