Reference no: PMS-0009
Version 1.3

PMS – Empty Container Scheme
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This publication (and any material sourced from it) should be attributed as: Approved Arrangements section, 2015, Process Management System for the Empty Container Scheme, (Process Management
System for the Empty Container Scheme - prepared for the Department of Agriculture), Canberra.
Department of Agriculture
Postal address GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933
Web agriculture.gov.au
Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of this document should be sent to: copyright@agriculture.gov.au
.
The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture has exercised due care and skill in the preparation and compilation of the information and data in this publication.
Notwithstanding, the department, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence, for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Updates to this document will occur automatically on the department’s website and the revision table below will list the amendments as they are approved.
Date Version Amendments
21 June 2014
26 June 2015
1.0 First release.
1.3 Minor review and rebranding.
2.0 Updated to new template.
Approved by
Industry Arrangements
Management
Caroline Martin, Director
Industry Arrangements Reform
Jon Webber, a/g Director
Approve Arrangements
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PMS – Empty Container Scheme
Purpose ................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope ....................................................................................................................................... 4
Definitions ............................................................................................................................... 4
Responsibilities ........................................................................................................................ 4
General requirements .............................................................................................................. 4
Structural ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Shipping line documentation .......................................................................................................... 5
Internal inspection of containers .................................................................................................... 5
Initial inspection .......................................................................................................................... 5
Re-inspection .............................................................................................................................. 5
Treatment of contaminants ........................................................................................................ 6
Washbays .................................................................................................................................... 6
Quarantine waste disposal ......................................................................................................... 6
Timber/wood .............................................................................................................................. 6
Fumigation of containers ............................................................................................................ 7
Administration and management ............................................................................................... 7
Additional materials ................................................................................................................. 7
Attachment 1: table of action required for each quarantine level .............................................. 8
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PMS – Empty Container Scheme
This document details the requirements that the Other Party must meet under the Empty Container
Scheme (the Scheme).
The scope of the Scheme, in relation to international repositioned empty containers, is limited to the following activities:

 verification of cleanliness
 subsequent cleaning and disposal referral to the Department of Agriculture (the department) of quarantine material found inside the containers.
These activities may only be undertaken at Quarantine Approved Premises (QAPs) Class 2.6 Empty
Container Parks.
This Schedule is to be read in conjunction with the Approved Arrangements Glossary, available on the department’s website. Definitions that are not contained within the glossary can be found in the most recent edition of the Macquarie Dictionary or in the Quarantine Act 1908.
The Other Party is responsible for:



Ensuring that at least two Accredited Persons are employed or contracted at any time
Ensuring that only Accredited Persons perform the functions specified under the Scheme and that they are aware of and follow the procedures detailed in this document
Ensuring that Accredited Persons have access to the latest version of the Operational Procedures
Statements
 Assisting the department with enquiries relating to procedures or goods covered by this Scheme
 Providing and/or locating documentation relating to this Scheme upon request.
The following general requirements cover the functions undertaken by the Other Party in mitigating the quarantine risk associated with imported empty containers under this Scheme:
 verification of cleanliness of empty containers
 cleaning of those containers when quarantine material (Quarantine Level 2) is present
 referral to the department when quarantine material (Quarantine Level 3) is detected.
The Other Party must ensure that criteria required for approval as a QAP are continually maintained to the standard specified in the QAP class 2.6 structural criteria.
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PMS – Empty Container Scheme
Documents that enable the identification of international repositioned empty containers as being subject to the required quarantine inspection must be maintained and available for the department to audit.
No structural repairs or other work that involves internal access to the container can be carried out until the quarantine inspection has occurred.
The Accredited Person must inspect internal surfaces of the container in a way that effectively identifies quarantine material. If quarantine material is found, the Accredited Person must determine if they are Quarantine Level 1, 2 or 3, as detailed in Attachment 1.
The Accredited Person must record the following information for every container requiring a quarantine inspection:
 dates of initial inspection
 container number (unique identifier)
 name of the premises at which the inspection was undertaken
 result of initial inspection (quarantine level - which shall reflect the type and level of quarantine material found inside the container, as per Attachment 1)
 any treatments carried out
 name, signature and approval number of the Accredited Person performing the initial inspection.
Following the detection of Quarantine Level 3 (QL3) material (see Attachment 1), the Other Party must ensure that the:
 container doors are closed
 regional office is contacted to make arrangements for an inspection
 container is moved to the quarantine inspection area.


Following the detection and subsequent removal/treatment of Quarantine Level 2 (QL2) material -
see Attachment 1), the Accredited Person must record the: date of re-inspection name, signature and approval number of the Accredited Person performing the re-inspection.


Where there is both QL3 and QL2 material, the Accredited Person must re-inspect the container, following the treatment of QL3 material, and record the: date of re-inspection name, signature and approval number of the Accredited Person performing the re-inspection.
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PMS – Empty Container Scheme
The initial container inspection may take place anywhere within the confines of the QAP. However, following the detection of QL3 material the container must be moved to the Quarantine Area for departmental inspection.
Internal cleaning for QL2 must occur in the Quarantine Area.
Once treatment is completed (for both QL2 and QL3), the Accredited Person must verify the completion of the treatment and record the necessary information on existing commercial or other documents for auditing purposes.
Soil and/or solid residues from a washbay soil trap or filter are quarantine waste and must be disposed as such.
Equipment from the washbay (e.g. waterproof footwear and protective clothing) must be thoroughly cleaned prior to removal from the washbay and at the conclusion of the cleaning operation each day.
Wash pads must be washed down after cleaning, to prevent soil being blown or carried off the washbay.
Persons or equipment not directly involved in the cleaning of containers are not permitted on the wash pad during treatments.
Containers on the wash pad shall be placed and washed in a manner to ensure no cross contamination with containers without quarantine concerns.
Waste accumulated in quarantine waste bins or removed from washbay facilities (including solid residues from soil traps, filters and vacuum cleaners) must be treated/disposed of in a departmental approved manner.
Quarantine waste must be identified as such to the waste disposal company and waste transporter.
A document outlining the Other Party’s disposal procedures for dunnage and quarantine waste must be available for the department to audit. This document must include specific procedures for dunnage disposal and the disposal of quarantine waste that is not subject to a separate quarantine direction.
The Other Party must seek approval from the department prior to changing any quarantine waste disposal contractual details.
The Other Party must ensure that timber including dunnage and pallets collected from inside the container is stored in a clearly defined quarantine area, or a quarantine dunnage container or other storage device for no longer than fourteen days.
Dunnage and timber must be either fumigated, high temperature incinerated, autoclaved or exported, within the fourteen-day period.
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PMS – Empty Container Scheme
QAPs who dispose of quarantine waste through autoclave or incineration may put timber/wood with or without bark attached, in the quarantine waste bin.
The Other Party must provide details of the licensed fumigators who will be available to carry out fumigation on its behalf.
Conditions specified by the department relating to the movement of containers directed for fumigation must be complied with.
Records are to be retained for a minimum period of 18 months and must be available for inspection by Departmental Officers upon request.
The Other Party is required to ensure that records and documents specified in this Process
Management System are maintained and kept up-to-date.



Compliance Agreement – Standard Terms Document
Compliance Agreement – Empty Container Scheme Schedule
Operational Procedures Statements - Empty Container Scheme.
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PMS – Empty Container Scheme
The following table details the Quarantine Level 3 (QL3) departmental intervention required.
Quarantine material Examples
Animals, insects, or snails Includes (but is not limited to):


 live or dead animals or parts of animals, snails, skeletons live or dead insects evidence of insects e.g. egg castings and insect damage.
Action required
Following the detection of any of these items:
A.
Immediately close container doors.
B.
Move container to Quarantine area.
C.
Contact the department.
D.
Record as QL3.
E.
After departmental treatment, check for QL2.
Unidentified materials Type of goods not known. If in doubt about the quarantine risk of any material contact the department.
The following table details the Quarantine Level 2 (QL2) contamination which can be removed onsite.
Quarantine material
Animal material
Examples
Includes (but is not limited to):
Action required
For any materials in this category:




 animal droppings animal blood and/or other body fluids skinned hide, loose bones, skin and hair not attached to a carcass feathers brushes, bedding.
A.
Move container to Quarantine area for cleaning.
B.
Remove quarantine materials. for:

 liquids and wet materials, wash or steam clean dry materials, sweep or vacuum
 animal products, final wash using departmental approved disinfectant or water at > 90 o C.
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PMS – Empty Container Scheme
Quarantine material
Plants and/or plant material
Soil/earth







Examples
Includes (but is not limited to): bark cane baskets, hats dunnage and/or wooden packing fruits and vegetables seeds straw, wreaths, sawdust plant material such as leaves, stems, flowers, pine cones, bamboo, rattan, sphagnum, husks, rice hulls.
Action required
C.
Dispose of waste, place quarantine material in quarantine bin.
D.
Dispose of dunnage/wooden packing:
 for autoclave or incineration place in quarantine bin, or
 store in the quarantine dunnage area.
E.
Check that no quarantine materials remain.
F.
Record as QL2.
Includes (but is not limited to):

 minerals and ores soil, whether loose, or on rocks, stones, pebbles.
As above
Food and/or food items Food items.
Miscellaneous
As above
Includes (but is not limited to):
 fruit cartons
 water or containers with liquid.
As above
The following table details the Quarantine Level 1 (QL1) which is free of quarantine risk material.
Quarantine material
No quarantine material present
Examples
Not applicable.
Action required
Record as QL1.
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