4 March 2024
Who does this notice affect?
Airlines, aircraft operators and their contracted services (third parties) performing or certifying disinsection treatments applied to aircraft cabin and hold for aircraft arriving in Australia and New Zealand.
What has changed?
Airlines and aircraft operators are advised that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have now released the new updated publication- Schedule of aircraft disinsection procedures for flights into Australia and New Zealand (Version 5.3).
This notice follows Import Industry Advice Notice (IIAN) 23-2024 published on 16 February 2024.
The new Schedule (V5.3) reflects adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) Aircraft Disinsection Methods and Procedures - 2nd Edition recommendations, with some noted ‘points of difference’. The WHO (2nd Edition) spray rates replace the former DAFF published (holds) spray rates and the WHO (2nd Edition) spray rates, for cabin and holds/cargo areas, are now required for aircraft arriving in Australia and New Zealand.
All airlines and aircraft operators, operating international services to Australia and New Zealand, should familiarise themselves with the new Schedule (V5.3) and the WHO (2nd Edition) publication, particularly cabin and hold aerosol disinsection rates (Annex 3).
Aircraft and airline operators should note, and action as required:
- The WHO 2nd Edition spray rates will apply to all flights arriving in Australia and New Zealand, on or after the 23 February 2024.
- All airlines should now refer to the Schedule of aircraft disinsection procedures for flights into Australia and New Zealand (Version 5.3) for aircraft disinsection requirements for Australia and New Zealand.
- As the WHO have increased spray rates in cargo hold areas (including the main deck of freighter aircraft), you now need to follow the WHO Aircraft Disinsection Method and Procedures (edition 2) (including the calculator tools if required), for both cabin and hold aerosol and residual spray rate requirements for your respective operating aircraft models. The changes to most aircraft hold spray rates align to former higher rates required for Australia and New Zealand.
- Airlines and aircraft operators should ensure that their airline disinsection procedures are updated with any changes affecting their operating aircraft and ensure their applicators are aware of any changes to disinsection procedures or spray rates required.
- Cargo holds treated using an aerosol method must use a combination aerosol: 2% permethrin & 2% d-phenothrin (or 1R-trans-phenothrin) unless the Schedule (5.3) states otherwise.
- Disinsection treatment certificate requirements are outlined in the appendix section of the Schedule (V5.3) and can be found in the Appendices 1-3 for respective disinsection methods. These must be used for all Australia and New Zealand flights instead of the WHO/ICAO certificates.
- Residual applicators will need to follow the WHO Aircraft Disinsection Method and Procedures Edition 2 (Section 3.2 and 6.2) with regards to the residual application equipment configuration and minimum residual spray amount requirements by aircraft model, noting addition of new specifications for residual disinsection droplet size to be achieved in the treatment application.
Stakeholders are encouraged to check the DAFF website Aircraft disinsection for further information over the coming week, including relevant web content updates and the new Schedule (V5.3) aircraft disinsection requirements.
Further information
For additional information please refer to the DAFF website Aircraft disinsection and Import Industry Advice Notices (IIANs). Alternatively email questions to Conveyance.Aircraft@aff.gov.au.