BMSB Heat Treatment

BMSB Heat Treatment

BMSB heat treatment is one of the biosecurity methods used to control the brown marmorated stink bug that may be present in export goods, machinery, vehicles and their packaging.

In this method no chemical fumigant is used; instead, hot air is delivered into the treatment area under controlled conditions so that the goods reach the target temperature. That temperature is then maintained without interruption for the period required by the country concerned. The aim is to reduce the risk of BMSB being carried into other countries with commercial cargo.

On shipments to countries that apply strict biosecurity rules, such as Australia and New Zealand, heat treatment is one of the methods that may be preferred where the nature of the goods, the loading configuration and the current import conditions are suitable.

Why Is BMSB Heat Treatment Applied?

To shelter during cold periods, the brown marmorated stink bug can hide in the narrow, enclosed sections of vehicles, machinery, containers, wood packaging and other commercial cargo. Cargo that looks clean from the outside does not mean that BMSB is absent.

The movement of the pest into new countries with commercial cargo creates a serious risk for agricultural production and natural ecosystems. For this reason, certain product groups sent from target risk countries may need to undergo an approved biosecurity treatment before shipment.

Heat treatment is based on the principle of achieving, in a controlled manner and throughout the entire consignment, a temperature and exposure period that will be effective against the different life stages of BMSB.

How Is Heat Treatment Carried Out?

BMSB heat treatment is not simply a matter of heating the surrounding air. For a successful treatment, the structure of the goods, the loading configuration, air circulation, temperature distribution and measurement points must all be assessed together.

1. Reviewing the Suitability of the Shipment and the Goods

Before treatment, the type, quantity and dimensions of the goods, the packaging structure, the container type, the country of shipment and the relevant biosecurity conditions are reviewed.

Not every product offers the same resistance to high temperature. Electronic parts, sensitive surfaces, plastic components, adhesives or other materials that may be affected by heat must therefore be assessed before treatment.

2. Preparing the Loading Arrangement

Sufficient air space must be left between the goods so that the heated air can reach every part of the consignment. Tightly packed or irregular loading that blocks hot air circulation may prevent some parts of the cargo from reaching the required temperature.

Closed compartments, machinery cavities and hard-to-reach areas are opened up to the hot air as far as possible. The cargo is positioned so as to reduce any cooling effect from the ground and to allow air to pass beneath it.

3. Preparing the Treatment Area

Heat treatment may be carried out in a suitable heating chamber, inside a container or under an insulated cover. The area used must be capable of reaching the target temperature and of maintaining that temperature for the required period.

In treatments carried out under a cover, the entire consignment must remain inside the insulated cover, and the treatment floor must be hard, level and suitable.

4. Distributing the Hot Air

The hot air produced by the heat source is directed into the treatment area with equipment that provides strong air circulation. The aim is to bring not only the ambient air but also the hardest-to-heat surfaces of the goods being treated, and where necessary their internal sections, up to the target temperature.

The treatment period is not started simply because the area has begun to warm up. All the defined critical measurement points must first reach the required temperature.

5. Measuring and Recording Temperatures

Calibrated temperature sensors and data logging devices are used so that the heat treatment can be verified. The sensors are placed at the points of the consignment expected to heat up last.

The following values are monitored throughout the treatment:

• Air temperature within the treatment area
• The hardest-to-heat surface temperature of the goods
• The internal temperature of the goods where necessary
• The start and finish time of the treatment
• The total period for which the target temperature was maintained
• Relative humidity, where the treatment schedule requires it

Temperature values are monitored regularly and without interruption by automatic data logging systems for the duration of the treatment.

Temperature and Duration in BMSB Heat Treatment

Under Australia's current BMSB measures, one of the general heat treatment options is maintaining a temperature of at least 56°C for 30 minutes on the coldest surface of the consignment.

For certain goods weighing less than 3,000 kilograms per piece and sent as bulk or break bulk cargo, an alternative schedule may be applied that requires a temperature of at least 60°C to be maintained for 10 minutes on the coldest surface of the consignment.

These values alone do not mean that the treatment is suitable. The type of goods, the mode of shipment, the destination country, the current seasonal rules and the relevant official treatment schedule must all be assessed together.

If the target temperature or the required duration cannot be achieved, the treatment is not regarded as successful. In that case the treatment must be replanned in line with the relevant methodology.

What Are the Advantages of Heat Treatment?

For suitable goods and shipments, heat treatment can offer the following advantages:

• It can be carried out without using a chemical fumigant.
• It leaves no chemical gas residue or fumigant-related odour.
• It can shorten the time needed to aerate the cargo after treatment.
• It allows the temperature to be monitored with sensors and recorded digitally.
• It can be a suitable option for machinery, vehicles, metal products and some packaged cargo.
• It is one of the biosecurity methods accepted under BMSB measures.
• Treatment results can be measured and placed on record.

Even so, heat treatment is not suitable for every product. A suitability assessment must be carried out before treatment for goods that may be affected by high temperature.

Certification After Heat Treatment

Following a successful BMSB heat treatment, the temperature records and shipment details of the treatment are documented. The records and certificates issued generally contain the following information:

• Customer and shipment details
• Description and quantity of the goods
• Container or bill of lading number
• Country of origin and destination country
• Port of loading
• Location where the treatment was carried out
• Treatment date together with start and finish times
• Temperature applied and exposure period
• Minimum temperature reached during the treatment
• Records of the sensors used
• Type of treatment area or equipment
• Details of the person responsible for the treatment and of the service provider

The information on the certificate must be consistent with the shipping documents such as the container, bill of lading, invoice and packing list.

The Importance of Professional BMSB Heat Treatment

In heat treatment, reaching a high temperature is not enough on its own. The temperature must be distributed evenly throughout the consignment, the coldest points must be identified correctly, and the required value must be maintained for the specified period.

Incorrect sensor placement, insufficient air circulation, an unsuitable loading arrangement or incomplete records may cause the treatment to be regarded as invalid. That can result in the shipment being held at the port, having to be treated again, or not being accepted into the destination country.

For this reason, BMSB heat treatments should be carried out by professional teams with suitable equipment, calibrated measuring devices and the necessary technical competence.

BMSB Heat Treatment Services with Atılım Fumigation

Atılım Fumigation provides professional services in assessing export cargo under BMSB measures and determining the appropriate biosecurity method.

Before treatment, the nature of the goods, the loading configuration, the container structure, the shipment date and the current conditions of the destination country are reviewed. For consignments found suitable for heat treatment, the preparation, hot air circulation, sensor placement, temperature monitoring and certification stages are carried out under controlled conditions.

To find out whether the cargo you will send to Australia or New Zealand is suitable for BMSB heat treatment and to draw up a treatment plan specific to your shipment, you can contact Atılım Fumigation.

BMSB risk periods, target product groups, approved treatment schedules and certification requirements may be updated by the relevant country authorities. The current requirements in force must be checked before each shipment.