Importing Used Tyres from Any Country

2 April 2002

bmg-std-tyres

April 2002

Contents

• Review
• Definitions

1. General conditions
2. New tyres
3. Used tyres
4. Containerised Tyres
5. Non Containerised Used Tyres
6. Fumigation Certification
7. Inspection for Contaminants
8. Decontamination
9. Charges
10. Biosecurity Clearance
11. Enquiries

Review

This MAF Biosecurity Authority (MAF Biosecurity) Standard is subject to periodic review. Amendments will be issued to holders of controlled copies to ensure the standard continues to meet current needs.

Last Review: February 2002
Next Review: To be advised or after 10 amendments

Definitions

Approved
Approved by an inspector.

Decontamination
Removal of contamination by a controlled and secure method.

Inspector
An inspector under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

1. General Conditions

It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that imported used tyres comply with the conditions in this standard. Used tyres that do not comply with of this standard will be decontaminated or reshipped or destroyed.

2. New Tyres

There are no conditions on the importation of new tyres into New Zealand unless an inspector considers that the tyres have been contaminated in transit. In such a circumstance the tyres will be treated as used tyres.

3. Used Tyres

3.1 Used tyres may only be landed at ports/airports that have suitable decontamination/cleaning facilities which have been approved as transitional facilities under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

3.2 All used tyres are prohibited entry into New Zealand unless they comply with the conditions of this import health standard.

3.3 Each commercial consignment of used tyres is to be accompanied by documentation stating:

1. number of tyres: type of tyres: container number
2. port of origin
3. shipment details
4. consignor
5. consignee.

3.4 Every consignment of used tyres must be free of contamination by any of the following:

1. animals, insects or other invertebrates (in any living life stage including, eggs, egg casings or egg rafts), or any organic material of animal origin (including blood, bones, fibre, meat, secretions, excretions, etc); or
2. plants or plant products (including fruit, seeds, leaves, twigs, roots, bark, sawdust, etc); or
3. soil; or
4. water.

NB: Of particular concern are exotic mosquitoes of public health significance.

3.5 All used tyres (not on rims) must be fumigated with methyl bromide on arrival by a MAF approved operator. 

4. Containerised Tyres

4.1 The fumigation must take place within 48 hours of arrival in New Zealand, with the tyres still within the container. If this treatment cannot be carried out within 48 hours of discharge, the container will be inspected for any damage which may permit insects to escape, any damage must be sealed while the container awaits fumigation. Fumigation must be at one of the following rates:

Temperature Celsius	Concentration G/m3	Time Hours
> 21	48	24
16 to 20.99	56	24
11 to 15.99	64	24
10 to 10.99	72	24

The internal temperature of the container must be >10°C for the duration of the fumigation.

4.2 An approved knockdown insecticide is to be applied by the fumigator as soon as the container door is cracked open.

4.3 The container door must be closed for a minimum saturation period of five minutes.

4.4 After five minutes the operator shall open the container and insert the fumigant hose, a fan suitable for circulating the fumigant in that space and a maximum/minimum thermometer. Any tyres that have to be removed to install the fan shall be completely sprayed with the knockdown insecticide.

4.5 The container must be closed and the doors made gas tight. The fumigation operator must also check the container for any leaks and tape over all cracks, vents or other holes.

4.6 The circulating fan (in a container) shall be turned on and the methyl bromide fumigant introduced as a gas (through a suitable heat exchange unit) at one of the above rates.

4.7 All seals (eg doors and vents) must be checked for gas leakage using a halide lamp. All leaks must be sealed.

4.8 The circulating fan must operate for at least 20 minutes after the last of the fumigant has been run into the container.

4.9 The container must not be opened for at least 24 hours.

4.10 The container may, under the direction of an inspector, be taken to an approved transitional facility. If the container is directed to go to a transitional facility for treatment, it must be inspected for holes (including vents) which must be sealed (if this has not already been carried out to meet the 48 hour requirement), before being allowed to leave the wharf.

5. Non Containerised Used Tyres 

5.1 Tyres not imported within a shipping container must be in, or placed in an enclosed area immediately upon discharge. This enclosed area may be a shipping container, the boot or interior of a vehicle, an impervious cover, or a room, provided the enclosure is capable of preventing the egress of mosquitoes. 

5.2 A knockdown insecticide is to be applied to the enclosed area to ensure that any mosquitoes present do not escape during the period between arriving in New Zealand and the fumigation taking place. 

5.3 The tyres must be fumigated within 48 hours of arrival in New Zealand at the port at which they arrived. Fumigation must be in accordance with the rates and methodology as described in 4.1 to 4.9 excepting that fumigation may not necessarily take place within a sea container.

6. Fumigation Certification

6.1 Following the fumigation treatment, the approved operator must issue the importer or an inspector with a certificate containing the following details:

1. name of importer;
2. container number;
3. ship and voyage number;
4. location of treatment;
5. date and commencement time of treatment;
6. date and completion time of treatment;
7. maximum temperature of ambient air temperature within the container;
8. minimum temperature of ambient air temperature within the container;
9. type of fumigant circulation used.

6.2 The importer must present the original fumigation certificate to an inspector before inspection of the tyres is be carried out. If the facility in which the treatment was carried out is not approved for inspection purposes, the inspector must direct that the container be transported to a transitional facility approved for the inspection of used tyres.

6.3 If the tyres have been fumigated at the port of discharge and then transhipped to a subsequent port for devanning and inspection, then a copy of the fumigation certificate must be sighted in the subsequent port by the inspector before devanning will be permitted.

7. Inspection for Contaminants 

7.1 Inspection shall be carried out under daylight conditions. Inspections inside or at night may only take place where artificial lighting provides the equivalent of daylight (i.e. 600 lux). 

7.2 When the tyres are uncovered or devanned after fumigation, the tyres must be inspected within four hours. The inspector must inspect at least 10% of the tyres for the presence of contaminants (see section 3.4) - particularly water (ie tyres need to be "clean and dry"). The inspector will also check for the presence of adult mosquitoes.

8. Decontamination

8.1 Where the inspector is not able to conveniently deal with the contamination (e.g. physically remove contaminant) at the time and place of the inspection, the tyres must be decontaminated at a transitional facility approved for decontamination or reshipped. In either case the action will be at the importer's expense.

8.2 The biosecurity direction must clearly describe the actions to be undertaken to decontaminate the tyres.

8.3 The tyres must be re-inspected after decontamination.

9. Charges 

The inspection charges will be in accordance with the Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations 1993.

10. Biosecurity Clearance

10.1 A biosecurity clearance will be given when the tyres meet the conditions of this import health standard and/or decontaminated to the satisfaction of an inspector.

10.2 The biosecurity clearance must be in writing and shall be traceable to the consignment of imported tyres.

11. Enquiries

11.1 Specific inquiries about the inspection and treatment requirements for exotic mosquitoes of public health significance should be addressed to:
Chief Technical Officer (Health)
Public Health Directorate
Ministry of Health
P O Box 5013
Wellington
Fax: 64-4-496 2340