Australian Fumigation Accreditation Scheme launched in India

New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) India and Australia have jointly launched a Fumigation Accreditation Scheme for training the Indian fumigators to provide effective fumigation of goods such as timber products and pallets, to meet stringent quarantine requirements.

The scheme, India-Australia Fumigation Accreditation Scheme (India-AFAS), would benefit both the countries. Indian exports to Australia would be promoted as Australian importers would have increased confidence that goods fumigated by accredited fumigators in India would meet Australia's quarantine requirements.

The Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr John McCarthy AO, today announced the launch of the India-AFAS.

The scheme, developed jointly through collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Australian Quarantine And Inspection Service (AQIS), will come into force from tomorrow.

The Ministry of Agriculture expects that once India-AFAS fumigators have demonstrated their competence by meeting Australian fumigation standards, enhanced trade opportunities will also emerge in order markets where AFAS is operating or being introduced -- such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China and the Philipppines.

For Australia, overseas fumigation accreditation schemes such as India-AFAS form an important part of AQIS's layered approach to quarantine to minimise the risk of pests and diseases entering Australia.

The system reduces costs for importers as well as exporters, since ineffective offshore treatments require remedial fumigation in Australia at the importer's expense.

Aside from the cost of another fumigation in Australia, delays can translate into additional cost and inconvenience and erode importer confidence in treatments conducted in that country.

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