29 August 2019
Industry update: Spacing of cargo within a container destined for NZ
Cargo spacing in sea containers
You've been asking us about specific requirements for internal sea container spacing. There have been no changes for offshore treatment providers. We revised the Sea Container Quarantine Declaration form in July 2019 to include extra guidance on suitable access and airspace when containers and cargo must be treated.
MPI strongly recommends that the Sea Container Quarantine Declaration form is completed and that appropriate space is provided. However, it's at your discretion to provide such space.
If space is not provided and treatment is needed, it could mean that MPI will take other actions. MPI may consider that treatment will not be effective or safe to do. If this happens, we may re-ship the container and cargo out of New Zealand or destroy it.
Spacing guidance
The 200mm spacing listed on MPI’s Quarantine Declaration form is a recommended distance only. Adequate spacing depends on the types of goods. You can adjust the spacing as needed to better suit your cargo and to still allow for appropriate treatment penetration.
- There must be sufficient free space throughout the enclosure to allow the fumigant to freely circulate around the target of the fumigation.
- There must be enough free airspace around and above the goods to give access to place monitoring tubes or temperature sensors and to place a fan to circulate the air.
- Good spacing is part of the approval process for offshore treatment programmes.
- Talk to your offshore treatment provider to make sure your containers are presented correctly for treatment.
Quarantine declaration form
Download the Sea Container Quarantine Declaration form
You can also find this guidance in “Appendix 1: Sample Quarantine Declaration” of the Guidance Document to the Import Health Standard for Sea Containers.
Download the Sea Container IHS guidance document
When there's not enough space
If treatment providers do not have enough space, the goods must be reconfigured or removed from the enclosure to allow correct placement of monitoring tubes and fan to occur. If this cannot be done, the fumigation should not be conducted.
