13 May 2020
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that the Indian Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) has approved phosphine fumigation as an additional treatment option to the current mandatory methyl bromide fumigation for Australian barley exported to India.
Summary of changes and key points
- The Indian NPPO has approved phosphine fumigation as an additional phytosanitary treatment to the current mandatory methyl bromide fumigation for Australian barley exported to India.
- The approval recognises all the three phosphine formulations and reduces the exposure period from 21 days in the current to 7 or 10 days depending upon the temperature as follows
- Aluminium phosphide at 2 g.m3 for 10 days at 15–25°C or 7 days at 25°C and above
- VaporPh3OS at 1400 ppm for 10 days at 15–25°C or 7 days at 25°C and above
- ECO2Fume at 1400 ppm for 10 days at 15–25°C or 7 days at 25°C and above.
- The fumigation must be undertaken onshore in Australia prior to export.
- These dosages are higher than Australian approved label rates. Fumigators may use the Minor Use Permit for phosphine obtained by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment to meet India’s phytosanitary import requirements.
- Exporters must present a valid fumigation certificate attesting to India’s requirements for phosphine fumigation to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.
- The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICoR) has been updated to reflect the new requirements. Exporters must refer to MICoR prior to export to ensure import conditions can be met.
Background
The department has successfully negotiated with India’s NPPO to allow phosphine as an alternative phytosanitary treatment for Australian plants and plant products exported to India. India stated that phosphine fumigation as a quarantine treatment will be considered on a commodity by commodity basis. Barley is the first commodity for which phosphine fumigation has been approved. Further commodities may follow in the near future, and will be added to the MICoR database as they become accepted by India.
Australian exporters are now able to fumigate barley with any of the three formulations of phosphine as per India’s gazette notification (27 April 2020) and as listed in MICoR.
Exporter and Fumigators responsibilities
Exporters and fumigators undertaking phosphine fumigation to meet India’s quarantine requirements must follow the fumigation protocols listed on MICoR.
Authorised Officer responsibilities
Authorised Officers must validate the treatment certificate in accordance with the Work Instruction: Validating supporting documents for plant exports.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email the Grain and Seed Exports Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch