Bureau of International Containers (BIC), Contracts of affreightment (COA), Institute of International Container Lessors (IICL) and World Shipping Council (WSC) jointly issued updated guidelines for the cleaning of containers, providing easy-to-use best practices.
In particular, all parties in the supply chain have a shared responsibility for stopping the spread of pests by keeping cargo and containers clean when in their custody. To remind in 2017, has published the original version of the Joint Industry Guidelines for the Cleaning of Containers and has become a valued source of guidance when it comes to preventing pest contamination.
The introduction of new pests can severely upset an existing ecosystem, with serious ecological consequences and possibly billion dollar impacts on a nation’s economy. Regulators and national authorities play a central role in stopping the transfer of pests, but given the scale of global trade it is prevention – stopping pests from entering cargo or containers in the first place – that is the best solution. With the updated guidelines, BIC, COA, IICL and WSC are looking to further improve the level of prevention across the supply chain to stop the transfer of pests.
For example, soil, dirt, or mud on the exterior that can be clearly identified as having come from the depot location, where the cleaning is carried out, may be disposed of in accordance with existing practices for general cleaning residues.
When each party in international container supply chains makes sure to start and end their work with clean cargo and containers, then containers will reach their destination faster while our agriculture, forestry and natural resources are preserved.
..said Lars Kjaer, Senior Vice President of WSC.
All parties in the supply chain – from manufacturers, to exporters, packers, freight forwarders, inland logistics providers, warehouse storage providers, ocean carriers, and importers – must take responsibility for maintaining cargo and containers clean when in their care.
The “Prevention of Pest Contamination of Containers: Joint Industry Guidelines for the Cleaning of Containers” are complementary to the direction provided in various guidelines published by the IPPC and in the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) regarding prevention of pest contamination of containers.
Recently, World Shipping Council has released an informative video on how containers can facilitate the start and spread of pests to communities around the world, risking agriculture, forestry & natural resources.
