ZIKA Virus Update

UPDATE: September 8, 2016

China Modifies U.S. Zika Shipment Requirements – Disinfection Certification Now Only Required for Vessels Originating from Florida

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Release: On September 2, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) stated that it has decided to regionalize its Zika requirements for shipments of cargo from the United States based on a risk-assessment performed by AQSIQ, using data supplied by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AQSIQ experts determined that due to the low risk of Zika transmission through shipments of cargo, vessels originating from the United States, other than the state of Florida, do not require disinfection certification. However, if during the course of routine sampling and inspection, local CIQ officials discover any adult mosquitoes, eggs, larva or infected cases, the vessel and its contents will be subject to the full Zika requirements..

Below are related links:

Statement on Zika Virus – China Shipments

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ) has stated shipments from the United States shall be subject to anti-mosquito treatment.

The ZIKA virus is a human health issue and is related to mosquitos, not wood-boring insects. Therefore, the recognized heat treatment or fumigation of export wood pallets for ISPM 15 compliance is not applicable for ZIKA compliance of the shipment. The entire consignment and container must be anti-mosquito treated and certified pre-shipment. There is no action a wood pallet company can do to assure ZIKA compliance for their customer’s shipment. It is the shipper’s responsibility to ensure the entire shipment is ZIKA compliant.

Inbound shipments without proof of anti-mosquito treatment will be fumigated at the port of discharge in China by the authorities without prior notice. It is the Consignee’s responsibility to inform Shipper (at origin) to provide a certificate proof of treatment before loading the shipment.

While specific details on compliance for the entire shipment have not yet been determined, it is clear this is not a phytosanitary issue. NWPCA is actively working with the US Department of Agriculture office of Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-PPQ) and monitoring the ZIKA issue with partners like the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and will provide further updates as we receive them.

Contact

Brad Gething, PhD
NWPCA Director of Science & Technology Integration
Phone: 703-519-6104
Email