Jack is a new importer in Portland US.
Before that he never head of the fumigation certificate in shipping.
He made a purchasing of various cargo in Yiwu marketplace and get it packed by 3 wooden pallets through one of this suppliers.
Export Customs was cleared and shipping goes well.
Jack fully expected to receive the beautiful gifts for his family but was told shipment was held and rejected to entry.
What’s going on ?
The reason could be the wooden pallets are not fumigated.
It is a story, but similar situation often occured.
Today,
I’m going to introduce the cause : fumigation.
What is fumigation certificate ?
A fumigation certificate, is also called a pest control certificate, is a shipping document proves that the products have passed the quarantine and pre shipment fumigation procedures provided by an approved fumigation service provider.
Why fumigation needed ?
In order to protect resources of their own country , some imported goods are subject to compulsory quarantine system in international trade.
Fumigation is a compulsory measure to prevent harmful diseases and insect pests from harming forest resources in importing countries.
Therefore, the export goods containing wood products must be treated before shipping.
And fumigation is one of the necessary methods.
What kind of goods and packing require fumigation ?
Generally refers to the materials used for wooden products, packaging, bedding, supporting and reinforcing goods. Including :
- Wooden furniture
- Wooden cases
- Wooden crates
- Wooden pallets
- Warehouse timbers
- Wooden barrels
- Wooden mats
- Sleepers
- Wood linersw
- Wooden shafts
- Wooden tubs
The most important is all logs must be fumigated or heat treated and marked with IPPC
If the outer package of wooden products is not wood packaging,
It is unnecessary to mark IPPC, but fumigation and disinfection with medicine are required.
PS: Plywood and Man-made Boards are Not required for Fumigation.
Fumigation Process
How does it work for shipping fumigation in China ?
1.Inspection officer open the box for inspection. Checklist including :
- whether the container it is locked well.
- Whether the air vent is sealed,
- whether there are bark and wormhole in the wood package,
- temperature of the wood package,
- the number of pieces,
- shipping mark,
- product name
- container number.
2. Seal and inflate.
How long does fumigation take ? Normally, the fumigation time was 24 hours.
3. The container can not be moved after inflation.
4. Outgassing:
The office shall open the box to deflate after fumigation for 24 hours. Generally, the container can be closed, sealed and dragged into the port wharf after half a working day of outgassing.
5. Customs clearance:
The export Customs can be started after half a working day of deflation.
6. Get the certificate
After that, the fumigation service provider will issue the original fumigation certificate.
Which countries require fumigation certifate when importing ?
The wood packaging used in the shipping shall be treated before shipping,
The countries that require fumigation include:
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
- Brazil
- Chile
- the Philippines
- Japan
- South Korea
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Turkey
- EU countries
- South Africa
Despite Southeast Asia, the Middle East, India Pakistan and Africa countries do not require wood fumigation.
The wood products and packings going to these three areas can’t with bark.
Bottom Line :
For all export goods from China,
no matter what country they are to, if the goods are not packed with wood, please attach the certificate of no wood packing.
If the goods are packed with wood, the fumigation certificate must be attached.
What’s the addtional requirement of Fumigation ?
Conclusion
That’s all you need to know about fumigation certificate and services.
To avoid the same problem in the story that told in the beginning,
The key point is to pay attention to the wooden products and wooden packings for your own next shipments.
Use free-fumigation pallets like plastic pallet, plywood and Man-made Boards or fumigated pallets.
No fumigation certificate and service required. This could be the cheapest way.
And don’t ship directly by supplier, use your own forwarder ( see the No.5 tip to find a good forwarder in China ).
If fact, this kind of trouble can be totally avoided when shipping is handled by forwarder.
Now, I would like to do a little investigation :
Do you realize fumigation necessary for wooden products and packing before read this article ?
or how much you know about the fumigation except what we have talked ?
Eitherway, just let me know by leaving a comment below.
I am ordering dowel rods from China to the US. Do these need fumigation ?
Or is it just the packaging ? So if they are packed in a plywood crate is this OK?
Hi Brad. Plyood crate is ok. Fumigation is unnecessary as long as no bark
Hi, the cargo should be shipped within 21 days after fumigation, shipped means vessel ETD China or ETA Europe? Thanks.
It means cargo leave China.
Hi, I bought 200 units of food supplements, I’m told my package has been delayed in Turkey Istanbul airport by customs officials. I have to pay $1200 for FUM Certificate before it can be released. How true is it ? Thanx
It depends on the packing. If it is wooden packing, possibly fumigation needed.
Hi there,
Can anyone help me to to get a fumigation licensees to perform fumigation services and issue fumigation certificate.