Financial Times - Special paper to eliminate fumigation threat to exports

Logiventures said it introduced a range of paper based packaging material that does not need fumigation which can been used as an alternative to wooden pallets, which require fumigation.

A local company has come up with a solution to counter the fumigation issue relating to exports to Australia: a range of packing material that doesn’t need to be fumigated.

Logiventures said it introduced a range of paper based packaging material that does not need fumigation which can been used as an alternative to wooden pallets, which require fumigation.

In a statement it said at a recent seminar organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on “Quarantine and Fumigation Procedures”, the rejection of an export shipment to Australia, due to live insects being observed on the wooden pallets, was highlighted.

Subsequently, during correspondence with the consulting company which works with the Australia Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS), it transpired that the problem lay with regard to the Methyl Bromide fumigation performed in Sri Lanka, though not all of it.

In case of a port of entry problem caused due to fumigation, the shipment would only be permitted entry in to Australia after it is re-fumigated.

This would cost Aus. $2000 (Rs 146,445) per container and would no doubt be unviable, the statement said. Among the range of these paper based products are the paper pallets which are extremely light due to the material used, said Logiventures Business Development Executive, Sarasi Liyanarachchi.

In addition to the paper pallets, Logiventures has a range consisting of Edgeboards/Corner boards, wrap-arounds, Flatboards and Slip sheets which eliminate the risk of exposure to chemicals, gaining on utilization of weight and volume capacity and providing strength to individual packages. It is also resistant to humidity.

Paper packaging is 100% recyclable and does not attract additional expenditure for disposal at the ports of destinations. Exporters would also need to spend less on strengthening their packaging as the paper packaging provides adequate strength.

It also meets the stringent specifications of entry into the European Union, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, among other developed countries, she added in the statement.