The Treatment unit carries out inspections and treatments of any imported and exported quarantine related articles. Such items can be artifacts, timber products, personal effects or food items. Inspections and Treatments are part of managing the risks of introducing exotic pests and diseases into Vanuatu. Likewise for exports of quarantine articles, inspections and treatments are done to meet the importing country’s requirements.
Inspections
Inspections are done visually and with the assistance of using a magnifying glass. When there are suspicion on articles posing risk to Vanuatu or the importing country, Fumigations are normally carried out to manage this risk.
Fumigation
Fumigation is done with Methyl bromide gas by Accredited Biosecurity Officers. Fumigations take 3 hours – 24 hours depending of the requirements of the country exporting to. Commodities such as Kava, Sandalwood, Tahitian Lime, artifacts and other articles such as personal effects and used quarantine related articles are treated with methyl bromide.
Other commodities namely copra and cocoa beans are treated using Phosphine. This treatments are done according to the importing country’s requirements.