What is fumigation in shipping, and why Fumigate?

Fumigation in shipping uses gas fumigant to terminate the insects in goods ready for shipping. Fumigation is the most important way to prevent the transfer of alien pests when importing and exporting products.

This method also affects pests such as wood borers and dry wood termites that inhabit the physical structure of wood.

What is a fumigation certificate, and what is its purpose of it?

A fumigation certificate is a document issued by the licensing authority authorized by the customs to indicate that the goods have been properly fumigated and do not carry pests that could threaten the ecological system of the destination country. It is a necessary certificate for customs clearance in countries obliged to fumigate.

What countries require fumigation?

There are five countries in the world where fumigation is forced for every wood product – America, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Canada. For the rest countries, fumigation is not that strictly supervised.

How to get a fumigation certificate, and where does fumigation work happen?

You can get the fumigation certificate from your vendors. The exporters usually apply it. Once used, the customs in the export country will send officers to the door and fumigate. The fumigation certificate will be issued a few days after fumigation. This work is usually done in a factory where goods are ready for shipping rather than in customs.

What is fumigation of wooden pallets, and is a fumigation certificate required for plywood?

Wooden pallets are the most widely fumigated products during the process of importing and exporting, as most of the wooden pallets are made of solid wood and easy to carry insects.

But for the goods made of plywood, the fumigation certificate is not necessary. High temperature is required to firmly bond the veneers together during the production of plywood – no pests can survive.

What is used to fumigate wood, and what are fumigation methods?

The chemical Methyl bromide with a concentration of 48-56g/m³is the most often used gas fumigant to fumigate wood. Duration 24-48 hours in a temperature of 20-27℃.

How is fumigation in shipping performed?

Fumigation in shipping is usually called tent wasting, or “tenting”, which is performed with tents – placed over the entire goods while releasing pesticides into the gap of the goods.

The sealed tent will trap the toxic gases and prevent them from escaping. This process will last up to 24-48 hours, depending on the concentration of the poisonous gases and the temperature.

When is fumigation in shipping required?

3-5 days before loading the container is when fumigation is required – when your goods’ production is completed, and all interest is well packed and ready for shipping.

When is a fumigation certificate required?

A fumigation certificate is only required when your goods are ready for clearance in your country’s customs.

What is fumigation in the shipping process?

When production is completed, and about 3-5 days before loading the container, it is time for your vendor to apply to customs for fumigation.

The manufacturer will stack the products in an empty room and wait for the customs agent to come to the door, and the customs officer will arrive in 1-2 days (China customs’ speed) after application.

They will measure the volume of the cargo pile first to calculate the concentration of the chemical required and the price. Usually, this volume will be larger than the real one because of the gaps between the goods.

After that, cover the entire pile with a large tent and seal it with long “sand snakes” placed along it.

Then wait 24-48 hours, and they will come to the door again – to remove the tents from the pile after the proper amount of aeration time. The progress is finished, and a fumigation certificate will be sent to your vendor in a few days.

How much does Customs fumigation costs?

The charges of fumigation in shipping are slowly rising these years. The latest customs fumigation cost in China in 2022 is USD200-300 within 20 cubic meters; the price will increase USD3-4 for each additional cubic meter beyond 20 cubic meters.

What is the customs fumigation certificate validity period?

The international standard of fumigation certificate validity period is 21 days. Beyond 21 days, your cargo should be re-fumigated. Therefore fumigation is usually applied after booking the container, and the vessel’s departure time is certain.