Some goods imported into Australia may require biosecurity treatment before export or after arrival.

Possible treatments include:

• Methyl Bromide Fumigation
• Sulfuryl Fluoride Fumigation
• Heat Treatment
• Other approved biosecurity treatments

However, treatment requirements do not mean cargo can be packed into a container in any configuration.

If cargo is packed too tightly, wrapped in impermeable material or otherwise prevents the treatment from reaching its target, the consignment may not be suitable for treatment.

Why Is Treatment Required?

Australia manages a range of overseas biosecurity risks.

Depending on the commodity, origin and shipping pathway, measures may relate to risks such as:

• Brown Marmorated Stink Bug — BMSB
• Khapra Beetle
• Timber pests
• Other risks identified through BICON

Whether fumigation, heat treatment, inspection or another measure is required depends on the specific import conditions.

Not every container entering Australia requires fumigation.

Why Does Container Packing Matter?

Effective fumigation requires the treatment to:

• Distribute throughout the enclosure
• Reach the treatment target
• Penetrate suitable packaging
• Maintain the required concentration for the required period

Tightly packed cargo or impermeable wrapping can interfere with this process.

A treatment provider may therefore determine that cargo requires remedial action before fumigation can proceed.

Does Every Container Have an 80% Load Limit?

No.

The 80% rule is not a universal requirement for every fumigation.

Under the current DAFF Methyl Bromide Fumigation Methodology, where the target is a:

Perishable Commodity

and the treatment schedule does not specify another load factor:

• Maximum load factor is 80%
• Packages must be palletised or raised at least 100mm above the ground

Other commodities must follow the relevant treatment schedule and import conditions.

How Should General Cargo Be Packed?

There is no universal rule requiring every cargo item to have exactly 10cm of spacing.

The important principle is that the packing arrangement must permit effective treatment.

Avoid:

• Completely blocking internal airflow
• Packing goods so tightly that gas distribution is restricted
• Impermeable plastic covering the treatment target
• Packing that prevents access to the goods
• Leaving no practical space for required treatment equipment

Where treatment is planned, the packing arrangement should ideally be reviewed before final loading.

Why Is Plastic Wrapping Important?

Stretch wrap and sealed plastic can prevent fumigant penetration.

Under the current methyl bromide methodology, impermeable packaging that interferes with distribution or penetration must be:

• Removed
• Opened
• Slashed
or
• Made pervious

before fumigation.

What Counts as Pervious Wrapping?

Current DAFF requirements specify minimum perforation patterns.

Examples include:

• At least four 6mm holes per 100mm × 100mm area
• At least five 5mm holes per 100mm × 100mm area
• At least six pinholes per 10mm × 10mm area

Pervious wrapping must also remain a:

Single Layer

so overlapping plastic does not block the perforations.

A few random holes may therefore not be sufficient.

Why Can Perforated Pallet Wrap Help?

Where stretch wrapping is required for cargo stability, suitable perforated wrapping may help maintain:

• Cargo restraint
• Pallet integrity

while allowing better:

Fumigant Penetration.

Actual suitability should still be confirmed by the treatment provider.

What Are the Timber Spacing Requirements?

Where timber itself is the target of methyl bromide fumigation, fumigant must reach the timber surfaces effectively.

Individual timber products must be separated by at least:

5mm every 200mm

along their length.

The spacing may be horizontal or vertical.

The methodology also recognises methyl bromide penetration into timber to a depth of:

100mm from the surface.

Dense bundles and impermeable coatings therefore require particular attention.

Why Does Treatment Equipment Need Space?

Methyl bromide fumigation may use equipment such as:

• Gas supply pipes
• Concentration monitoring equipment
• Sampling tubes
• Temperature monitoring equipment
• Fans
• Heaters where required

Cargo should therefore not be packed in a way that prevents treatment personnel from installing the required monitoring and distribution equipment.

Are Monitoring Tubes Simply Placed Front, Middle and Back?

Not exactly.

For general methyl bromide fumigation enclosures under 30m³, at least one gas concentration monitoring location is normally required.

For enclosures of 30m³ or more, at least three monitoring locations are generally required, including positions:

• Near the top of the goods toward one end
• Near floor level toward the opposite end
• Around the middle-centre among the goods

Specific arrangements can vary according to the commodity and treatment conditions.

Why Are Fans Used?

Fans can support even fumigant distribution.

Where fans are used under the current methyl bromide methodology, there must generally be at least:

One fan for each 100m³ of enclosure volume or part thereof.

Multiple sea containers treated within one enclosure require suitable circulation arrangements for each container.

What Happens If Cargo Is Packed Too Tightly?

Cargo may require remedial action such as:

• Slashing plastic wrapping
• Removing packaging
• Rearranging cartons or packages
• Creating additional treatment space
• Partial unpacking
• Repacking

Correct:

Pre-Fumigation Packing

can reduce the need for these expensive corrective steps.

What Is Different About BMSB Treatment?

For the 2026–27 BMSB season, Australia currently recognises four treatment options:

• Heat Treatment
• Methyl Bromide
• Sulfuryl Fluoride
• Ethyl Formate

Each treatment has its own:

• Temperature requirements
• Dose
• Exposure period
• Monitoring requirements
• Provider requirements

There is therefore no single packing rule that applies to every BMSB treatment.

What If a BMSB Container Is Too Tightly Packed?

DAFF encourages containers to be packed so they can be effectively treated if required.

Where cargo arrives in Australia and cannot be effectively treated inside the container, secure unpacking at an appropriately approved facility may be necessary.

BMSB in-container remedial work must also be carried out under the relevant approved arrangement conditions.

Planning before shipment is therefore usually much easier than correcting the problem after arrival.

Does All Commercial Packaging Need to Be Removed?

No.

The key question is whether the packaging interferes with the specific treatment target.

Potential issues can include:

• Sealed plastic bags
• Multiple layers of stretch wrap
• Impermeable films
• Sealed liners

Whether cartons or retail packaging need modification depends on the treatment method and the relevant BICON requirements.

Why Does Packing Matter for Heat Treatment?

Heat treatment also depends on the treatment target reaching the required temperature.

Dense packing or highly insulating material can create cold areas and increase treatment time.

For BMSB heat treatment, the relevant temperature is measured at the:

Coldest Surface of the Goods.

Cargo structure and packing configuration therefore remain important.

What Can Happen If Treatment Requirements Are Not Met?

Potential consequences may include:

• Secure unpacking
• Repacking
• Additional treatment
• Approved Arrangement charges
• Storage
• Container detention
• Additional transport
• Biosecurity delays
• Export or re-export risk

Correct preparation before shipment can significantly reduce these costs.

What Should Be Checked Before Fumigation?

Before loading, review:

• Whether the commodity requires treatment
• Relevant BICON import conditions
• Treatment method
• Treatment provider status
• Plastic wrapping permeability
• Cargo density
• Timber spacing where relevant
• Access for monitoring and treatment equipment
• Treatment certificate requirements

The objective is not simply to leave a fixed amount of empty space.

It is to ensure that the cargo complies with the:

Applicable Treatment Methodology.

Chinz Logistics Australia Import & Biosecurity Freight

Chinz Logistics provides freight coordination between China, Australia and other international markets, including:

• China to Australia sea freight
• LCL shipping
• FCL shipping
• China collection and warehousing
• Export customs support
• Australian import clearance coordination
• BMSB-related logistics coordination
• Biosecurity documentation coordination
• Offshore treatment coordination
• Australian local delivery

Where cargo may require fumigation or heat treatment, treatment requirements should ideally be reviewed before final packing and container loading.

If you are preparing a shipment, provide:

Cargo description + material + HS Code + country of origin + country of export + packing method + timber/timber packaging details + container type + Australian destination

to help determine the appropriate freight and treatment preparation.