A conference in Rotterdam this November will explore redesigning freight containers used for sea transport to reduce the risk of them becoming contaminated by plants or animals. Right now, containers can inadvertently contribute to the global spread of invasive pests.
The one-day event is hosted on Monday 11 November, by the secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and is a key part of its programme to reduce the movement of invasive pests by hitch-hiking in, or on, freight containers or the cargoes they carry.
Representatives of national and regional plant protection organisations will join representatives of the manufacturers, owners, operators and users of freight containers to discuss the scope for eliminating voids, spaces and other features on container surfaces and fittings where pests could gather and possibly multiply during a long sea voyage.
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Treatment of existing containers also considered
Many of the changes to be discussed and developed would be applied to future container construction, but the symposium will also assess the scope for treatments of existing containers, especially the underside surface which may come into contact with the ground during loading and storage.
Any such measures would supplement operational recommendations developed by the Commission for Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) earlier this year that every party handling containers or their cargoes should take steps to avoid them becoming contaminated by pests whilst in their custody – an approach known as ‘Custodial Responsibility’.
Easier to clean
The IPPC secretariat is organising the symposium with the collaboration of the World Shipping Council (WSC), the Container Owners Association (COA), and the Bureau International des Containers (BIC), and participation by industry is also endorsed and encouraged by the other partners of the Cargo Integrity Group.
‘The best way to prevent pest contamination is to keep cargo and containers clean,’ says Lars Kjaer, SVP at World Shipping Council. ‘That is the responsibility of every party in the supply chain. But supply chains are long and complex, and if we can perfect the design of containers in a way that minimises the risk of contamination and makes them easier to clean – then we have a head start in the battle against invasive pests.’
More information on the conference, or to register, please visit the IPPC website.
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