10. Fumigation rules

A fumigation	Fumigation is the disinfestation of commodities by the use of phosphine or methyl bromide gas or such other gases that may from time to time be designated as fumigants by the appropriate Ministries and National Plant Protection Services.
A Fumigant	Shall be any gas designated by the Minister for the purpose of killing insects during the process of fumigation.
Where fumigation can be used	Fumigation should only be used in conditions where appropriate gas-tightness standards can be met. For example, to disinfest commodities under gas proof sheets, or in sealed warehouses, sealed railway wagons, sealed transport containers, sealed barges and ships. On-ship fumigation requires special attention to gas application and distribution methodology, sealing, safety and hazards. Not all ships are suitable.
Sealing	"Sealed" for the purposes of these rules shall mean gas tight to acceptable international standards as determined by the pressure decay test, or the equilibrium pressure flow test, or tracer decay test when the previous two methods cannot be used. Appropriate gastightness can be based on gas concentrations achieved and therefore, sampling, during the exposure period and prior to ventilation/aeration.
License to fumigate	Only persons holding a license to fumigate will be allowed to carry out or supervise the process known as fumigation.
Issuance of a license to fumigate	A license to fumigate may be issued to any individual on the demonstration of his competence to fumigate determined on the basis of written examinations and practical performance testing, or, to have been certified competent in fumigation practices by an internationally recognised training establishment or authority on the subject of fumigation.
Issuing authority	Only the appropriate National Plant Protection Services may issue a license to fumigate.
Ownership of a license to fumigate	A license to fumigate is the property of the person to whom it is issued.
Obtaining a license to fumigate	A person may apply for a license to fumigate after working for a period of not less than six successive calendar months with a licensed fumigator, and to have assisted in not less than 25 fumigations. This period should be followed by attendance on an approved course of instruction, and upon reaching the required standard during examinations set and supervised by an examiner nominated by the appropriate national authorities.
Period of validity	A license once issued shall be valid for a period not exceeding three calendar years, or for as long as deemed appropriate by the licensing authority.
Refusal of license to fumigate	A license to fumigate may be refused to an individual by the licensing authority, if they are of the opinion that by the issue of such license, the life or health of the licensee or other persons may be placed in jeopardy.
Cancellation of a license to fumigate	A license to fumigate may be cancelled by a Fumigation Inspector at any time should the licensee, by malpractice, fail to carry out a fumigation to standards laid down in the attached Code of fumigation practices.
Fumigation Inspector	These are Inspectors of fumigation standards designated by the appropriate Ministry as the need arises. Inspectors will normally be serving government officers of national Plant Protection Services, appointed by the Civil Service. Where persons from other governmental departments are designated as Fumigation Inspectors, such Inspectors will, at all times, be answerable to the appropriate authority in Plant Protection Services for any decision taken by them in matters of fumigation.
Qualification of a Fumigation Inspector	Must have the minimum qualification of a diploma in Agriculture or relevant scientific subjects awarded by a recognised teaching institute, and/or to have been certified competent in fumigation practices by an internationally recognised training establishment or authority on the subject of fumigation and must hold a current license to fumigate.
Duties of a Fumigation Inspector	a) To inspect and monitor fumigations carried out by licensed fumigators to ensure that these fulfil the requirements for fumigation laid down in the approved national Code of Fumigation Practices/Plant Protection Regulations.
	b) To measure gas concentrations during fumigations to ascertain that the correct dosage of gas is being applied to kill all stages of the insects infesting the commodity under fumigation.
	c) To ensure that the fumigation is being carried out safely.
	d) To give courses in fumigation practice to persons aspiring to obtain a license to fumigate when deemed necessary.
	e) To set both practical and theoretical examinations on fumigation.
	f) To act as examiners and investigators during these examinations.
Rights of entry Fumigation Inspector	A Fumigation Inspector in the course of his official duties will have the right of entry, at all reasonable times, to any premises or place in which he believes a fumigation may be taking place.
Appeal against a refusal to issue or cancellation of a license to fumigate	When a license to fumigate is refused or cancelled, the person concerned has the right of appeal to a Fumigation Appeals Tribunal established for this purpose. The Senior Officer of the Produce Inspection and Phytosanitary Service and at least one other designated officer widely experienced in fumigation practices, should be nominated by the Chairman of the Tribunal
Winning an appeal	In those cases where the appeal against non-issue or cancellation is successful a new license will be issued immediately.
Failure to obtain a license on appeal	Where an appellant fails to obtain a license or the re-issue of a license at an Appeals Tribunal, he may at the discretion of the chairman, be required to pay the costs of the appeal.
Equipment	Any company or individual which aspires to fumigate or carrying out the process of fumigation shall have in its possession at all times the required equipment in sufficient quantity and quality to perform properly any fumigation it undertakes.
Fumigation	Any person or Company that carries out the practice of fumigation will keep a record of every fumigation giving details of date and place the fumigation was carried out, commodity fumigated, the type of gas used, the period the commodity was exposed to the gas, dosage used in grams of gas per cubic metre or per metric tonne. The record must also include any other pest control measures undertaken in relation to that fumigation.
Fumigation Certificates	A fumigation certificate will be issued by the Fumigation Inspector on completion of any fumigation to the owner of the commodity fumigated. This certificate will include dates of the fumigation, time of exposure, dosage and commodity type and tonnage in relation to the fumigation. The final gas concentrations achieved at the end of the stipulated exposure period to methyl bromide and phosphine, should also be clearly stated, and whether it is in compliance with the Guideline Recommendations for complete disinfestation.
Gas proof sheets	Gas proof sheets made of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, neoprene or a type and quality approved by the national Plant Protection Services, as suitable for fumigation purposes. They must be in good condition and free from holes. Any repairs carried out must have been done to an acceptable standard using gas proof materials.
Gas masks or other respiratory protection	Full face type gas respirators with canisters suitable for the gases being used [type B with grey strip (band) for phosphine, type A with a beron strip (band) for methyl bromide]. They should be in good condition and held in sufficient numbers so that all persons concerned with the fumigation will be protected. Self contained breathing apparatus in good condition, where desired, may be used as an alternative to gas masks, but in any event, should be available at-the-ready at any fumigation in case of unforeseen hazards and emergencies.
Canisters	Canisters both used and unused must be within their expiry dates. Unused canisters must have their seals kept intact until they are opened for use. When not in use canisters on masks should have the supplied bottom seals fitted.
Gas detecting equipment	Should have enough of an approved gas detecting apparatus to measure the quantity of gas present in the air and within the sealed enclosure Minimum requirements:
	Phosphine
		Detector tubes and pump for:
		0.1-4.0 pm or equivalent
		50.0-1000 ppm or equivalent
	Methyl bromide
		gas detector lamp in good working order
		gas detector tubes (5 ppm and below)
		gas monitor and tubing
Sand "snakes " or "lay flat" tubing	Either made up of a suitable material to hold sand or soil in sufficient numbers to completely surround any fumigation they may carry out with a 10 cm overlap of each sand snake, double layering at corners;
	or
	Layflat tubing of not less than 12 cm diameter in sufficient quantity to make the quantity of sand snakes required.
Repair materials	· Repair kits for gas proof sheets · Masking and sealing tape · Mastic or joining compound · Paste and paper · Cement and sand
Safety equipment	· Warning notices of sufficient number and size (at least 50 cm x 40 cm) · Overalls and gloves · First aid kit
Miscellaneous equipment	· Measuring tape (50m) · Rope (10m) · Tools (as necessary for the fumigation) · Broom, bucket, shovel · Fumigation register/card index · Sampling spear(s) · Thermometer (probe type) · Sample bags
For methyl bromide fumigation	Methyl bromide application equipment:
	· Cylinder fittings; on-off valve, pressure gauge, Schrader valve, filter couplings · Heavy duty foot pump · Scale and tripod or platform scale (to 120 kg) · Nylon capillary gas sampling line · Methyl bromide vaporizer with manifold and hose