What Is Export Fumigation Process for Coffee? – One regulation to pass through customs is the fumigation of exported coffee. One of those regulations is the fumigation of exports from exported countries that applies to some specific items.
This is something that exporters need to pay attention to avoid goods being returned, unable to be exported, fined, etc., due to not performing fumigation with those items.
So let’s learn about fumigation with Helena Coffee Vietnam about general regulations on fumigation.
What Is Fumigation Exporting Coffee?
During the covid-19 epidemic, fumigation has become mandatory and is more rigorously tested than ever. Using fumigants will help minimize the risk of disease transmission from the exporting country to the importing country.
Therefore, fumigation in some countries has stringent regulations.
Fumigation of exported coffee is a commonly used method to eliminate insects in coffee and shipping containers.
Fumigation has the effect of cleaning the compartments of ships, coffee using packaging, paper or wooden shelves, or wooden crates becoming clean, avoiding pollution, … while transporting coffee.
Fumigation is one of the mandatory regulations to complete customs clearance procedures for shipments to the importer, handling harmful insects by using chemical substances to fumigate.
After being fumigated to the standards, coffee is usually issued with a Certificate of Fumigation.
Importing countries in the world will not allow importing certain types of coffee for which the exporter cannot present this type of fumigation certificate.
What is fumigation?
Fumigation is a commonly used method – spraying chemicals to treat termites, termites, etc., in general, possible insects, to make ship and cargo compartments using paper or wooden packaging and shelves or wooden crates clean and free from contamination, etc. while transporting the goods.
Reasons for fumigation
- Shipping time by sea is usually long. During that time, chemical goods are stored in closed containers with high temperatures (over 40 degrees Celsius) and a humid environment with moisture creating favorable conditions for mold and insects to increase.
- The main groups of goods exported from Vietnam are agricultural products (rice, tea, cashew nuts, coffee, …) or wooden goods (handicraft furniture, decorations, …), bamboo and rattan products. , … or any items with wooden crates, etc., it is easy to generate termites and mold during transportation.
Therefore, we need to fumigate the surface treatment to ensure the safety of the goods and the safety of the surrounding environment.
- Strict environmental protection regulations by customs at the destination port apply to goods imported into Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia. Imported shipments that do not comply with this regulation will face heavy fines. Penalties will be for Vietnamese exporters.
Items that need fumigation consideration
- Products of organic origin include agricultural products ( green coffee beans, pepper, cashew, …)
- Products derived from wood (rattan, bamboo leaves, handicrafts, wood products without surface treatment, …)
- Packing from wood such as wooden bales, wooden pallets, packing ceramic goods, machinery, spare parts, etc.
- The importing party requires some other items.
Commodity fumigation process
Nowadays, fumigation is done very simply and does not take much time.
For example, with the current prevalent packing method, which is wooden pallets, the fumigation company will spray the wood pallets and stamp them for certification, then issue a fumigation certificate.
Necessary set of documents for issuance of fumigation certificate
- Commercial invoice: Commercial invoice
- Packing list: Packing list
- Bill of Lading: Bill of lading
Time to issue fumigation certificate
Within 01-02 days since spraying and sending all the above documents.
Below is a sample of the fumigation certificate:
Summary Of Products Needed To Be Fumigated
– Products of organic origins, such as agricultural products ( green coffee beans, pepper, cashew, …)
– Items derived from wood (rattan, bamboo leaves, handicrafts, wood products without surface treatment, …)
– Packing derived from wood such as wooden bales, wooden pallets, packing ceramic goods, machinery, and spare parts, …
– Some other items required by the importer.
Some note:
- Shipping time for exporting coffee to countries around the world usually takes about 20 – 40 days when moving by sea.
- During that time, items are usually packed in containers with temperatures over 40 degrees and a humid environment at sea, creating favorable conditions for mold and insects to multiply.
- With high and strict environmental protection regulations of the customs of countries around the world, especially for European countries, imported items must fully comply with rules, or they will face serious consequences—heavy fines from customs to units with hazardous export items.
- When receiving export packages from suppliers in Vietnam for items requiring fumigation, transport units or transport brokers must ensure that the shipping units have approved the coffee; fumigation avoids unfortunate consequences.
See also: Customs Procedures For Importing & Exporting Coffee (Latest update 2023).
Fumigation Process For Exporting Coffee
Fumigation at export suppliers is usually very simple and fast and does not take much time.
For the methods of packing coffee on wooden pallets, the export supplier will spray disinfectant on the wooden pallet and stamp for confirmation within 1 to 2 days; then, a fumigation certificate will be issued.
There are some cases in which empty containers are fumigated before loading. The most common way that people often apply today is fumigation after packing, and the container is closed.
This fumigation method is popular because the fumigation gas is kept closed and spreads entirely inside the container.
However, the above fumigation methods are not applied to foods intended for consumption by customers and some other types of products per state regulations.
Commodity exporters often use alternative packaging materials such as plastic pallets and crates for safety and ease of reuse instead of wooden pallet materials.
Commonly Used Chemicals For Fumigation Of Exported Coffee
Chemical disinfectant Methyl Bromide (CH3Br)
This chemical was used very early for sterilizing goods; it has good diffusing and penetrating ability, so it is often used to disinfect large shipments, warehouses, or cargo holds with a large volume—tens of thousands of m3.
Methyl Bromide (CH3Br) treats dried agricultural products (green coffee beans), handicrafts, wooden goods, vegetables, flowers, and fresh fruits…
Phosphine (PH3)
As an adequate future substitute for Methyl Bromide, the permeability is not thorough, and the incubation time is extended.
Chemical Aluminum Phosphide (AlP)
This is the original formulation of the disinfectant Phosphine (PH3) – a poisonous vapor that kills insects. When brought into the sterilization space, AlP will combine with moisture in the air to release PH3, so the sterilization time for this drug is usually longer than that of Methyl Bromide.
See also: How Can Import Coffee From Vietnam Coffee Supplier?
Fumigation service for export coffee in Helena Coffee Vietnam
Helena Coffee Vietnam is one of the leading companies in the field of coffee exporting in Vietnam. We provide complete and comprehensive services and the best solutions in the coffee industry.
With a network of agents worldwide with ten years of experience, we are committed to bringing your coffee business the best service and fastest shipping time.