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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
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Commercial Information Circulars

Ref.: CR EIC 111/2/12/1 CR EIC 191/2/6

14 May 1999

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 74/99

Canada : Fumigated Freight Containers

 

Further to my Commercial Information Circulars No. 10/99 dated 29 January 1999 and No.43/99 dated 31 March 1999, this circular serves to remind shippers, forwarders, cargo operators, ship liners and all parties concerned the existing requirements for Canada-bound fumigated freight containers.

REQUIREMENTS

2. According to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code and Canadian domestic regulations, the requirements in paragraphs 3 and 4 below should be observed for all Canada-bound freight containers which have undergone fumigation but not ventilated before being loaded on board a ship.

3. Each of such fumigated freight containers must be accompanied by a warning label that clearly shows, in English and French, the following information : -

  1. the name of the fumigant used; and
  2. the date and time of fumigation.

4. Besides, all shipping documents (e.g. ship manifests, bills of lading) in respect of fumigated freight containers should be accompanied by the following information : -

  1. the type and amount of fumigant used;
  2. the date and time of fumigation;
  3. the location of each freight container on board the ship; and
  4. instructions for disposal of any fumigant that is not in a gaseous state.

(Note: Methyl bromide and sulphuryl bromide, which are the only fumigants accepted by the Canadian authority for fumigating non-manufactured wood packaging materials, exist in gaseous state in room temperature.)

5. To comply with the requirements stipulated in paragraph 4 above, parties concerned are advised that all shipping documents for these freight containers should be accompanied by the following : -

  1. a fumigation certificate stamped by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department; and
  2. a completed IMO Dangerous Goods Declaration Form.

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE

6. Freight containers do not comply with the above-mentioned requirements may be ordered to return to origin by the Canadian authority.

ENQUIRIES

7. For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the following departments : -

Department Tel. No.
Trade Department
(Asia and Americas Commercial Relations Branch) 		2398 5682
Agriculture and Fisheries Department
(Plant and Pesticides Regulatory Division) 		2733 2163
Marine Department
(Dangerous Goods and Project Section) 		2852 3085

Yours faithfully,

(Herman KWAN)

for Director-General of Trade

Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.

Convenient and efficient enquiry service - please use Trade Department 24 hours General Enquiry Hotline 2392 2922.