Agriculture and Livestock. (Handling of Containers) Rules

THE AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK (HANDLING OF CONTAINERS) RULES LN 47/1978 LN 39/1994 (Section 16* of Cap 35) *Note - Notwithstanding the repeal of section 16 of Cap 35 by section 10(2) of Cap 34 the Agriculture and Liverstock (Handling of Containers) Rules (LN 47 of 1978) shall continue to have effect as if they were made under section 2 of this Chapter. [4th July 1978] Citation 1. These Rules may be cited as the Agriculture and Livestock. (Handling of Containers) Rules. Definitions 2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires— "approved container base" means an area within the wharf limits or any other area as may be declared by the Minister, used for examining, storing, breaking down or consolidating cargoes comprised in whole or in parts of containers; LN 39/1994 "container" means a box, case or container used for the transport of goods which is designed and constructed— (i) to facilitate the carriage of goods by one or more modes of transport; (ii) in such a manner as to permit its ready handling and in particular its transfer from one mode of transport to another; (iii) for ease of loading and unloading of its contents; and (iv) of a standard size having an internal volume of not less than one cubic metre; "wharf limits" shall include all that area of a port declared under section 5 of the Ports Act. Cap. 161 Approval of container base 3. Where the Minister is satisfied that any area within the wharf limits or outside used for handling, storing, breaking down or consolidating containers has sufficient access to facilities and equipment for examining, weighing, fumigating, disinfecting and destroying or incinerating goods contained in such containers, he may declare such area to be an "approved container base". http://www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol act/pa104/ LN 39/1994 Construction of containers 4. Every container and pallet contained therein landed from any ship must— (a) be constructed of timber treated in accordance with the recommendations for permanent treatment issued by the Department of Health of the Commonwealth of Australia in October 1968 as set out in the First Schedule hereto or treated in such other manner as the Under Secretary (Agriculture) may approve; and (b) carry a rating plate indicating the method of treatment of the timber used in the construction thereof. Manifests 5. (1) Each container to be unloaded in Solomon Islands must either have its own manifest, or in the event that several containers are to be unloaded from a single shipment, the manifest shall itemise the contents of each container separately. (2) A copy of every such manifest shall be made available to the Under Secretary (Agriculture) as early as possible and in any event before the container or containers to which it relates is or are opened. Cleanliness of containers 6. (1) Both the interior and the exterior of every container landed from any ship and destined for use in Solomon Islands must be clean and free from contamination with insects and other pests, soil, debris and animal or vegetable matter, whether or not such container be empty. (2) If the interior or exterior of any container is not of sufficient state of cleanliness to satisfy the Under Secretary (Agriculture) such container must be immediately cleansed within the wharf area and all matter removed therefrom must be disposed of to the satisfaction of the Under Secretary (Agriculture). Refrigerated containers 7. (1) Every refrigerated or insulated container landed from any ship must have been thoroughly cleaned in a manner prescribed in the Second Schedule hereto immediately prior to loading and despatch to Solomon Islands. (2) If any such container shall not carry with it a certificate stating that it has been cleaned in a manner specified in the Second Schedule immediately prior to loading and despatch to Solomon Islands or is in a dirty or contaminated condition on its arrival in Solomon Islands the Chief Medical Officer (Community Health) may require that its contents be inspected and passed fit for human consumption before being released. The Under Secretary (Agriculture) shall then require the container to be cleaned in accordance with paragraph (3). (3) Every refrigerated or insulated container shall be cleaned in a manner set forth in the Second Schedule after it has been emptied of its contents. (4) The Minister may from time to time add further approved cleaning methods to the Second Schedule hereto. Inspection of containers 8. (1) Every incoming container which is loaded in whole or in part with agricultural produce shall before any produce is removed therefrom be opened for inspection within the area of the approved container base by an inspector appointed by the Minister. (2) The Under Secretary (Agriculture) or any officer appointed by the Minister shall have the right to inspect any other incoming container (whether loaded or not) and the goods contained therein. Containers leaving Solomon Islands 9. Every container leaving Solomon Islands which is to be loaded in whole or in part with agricultural products must, prior to loading, be free of insects and pests and be cleaned to the satisfaction of the Under Secretary (Agriculture) who may issue a certificate to the effect that it has been so cleaned. Entry of containers into Solomon Islands 10. (1) Containers destined for Solomon Islands must in every case be first landed at Honiara and held within an approved container base. (2) No container may leave the wharf limits for a destination within the Solomon Islands without the prior consent in writing of the Under Secretary (Agriculture). Liability for meeting requirements 11. (1) For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared that the actions required and the costs incurred in cleaning or treating containers to meet the requirements of these rules are to be borne by the shipping agent responsible for the importation of the containers. (2) The Minister may impose charges for the inspection of containers. FIRST SCHEDULE Recommended Treatments for Timber (Rule 4(a)). The minimal retention of fixed, waterborne chemicals approved for the preservative treatment of timber components of containers for overseas cargo are set out in the third column. RECOMMENDED IMMUNISATION TREATMENTS Chemical Elemental Calculated Charge Retention Material Chemical Arsenic of lb per cu. ft. Basilit CCA Type A5.850.674 Basilit UA12.900.306 Basilit UA No. 13220.540.192 Boliden K3322.170.178 Celcure A14.800.267 Celcure AN20.090.196 Celcure Z19.560.202 Protim Salts 11.270.350 Tanalith C11.270.350 Tanalith CA21.020.188 Tanalith NCA20.030.197 Tanalith U10.070.392 Treatim CCA11.270.350 Wolman CCA6.200.64 Wolmanit CKA12.400.318 Drilon 0.16 TBTO* *Tributyltin oxide SECOND SCHEDULE Approved Cleaning Methods for Refrigerated and Insulated Containers (Rule 8(1)). (a)All internal surfaces to be swept or vacuumed and thoroughly cleaned with 4 per cent solution of sodium carbonate containing 0.1 per cent sodium silicate; or (b)All internal surfaces to be swept or vacuumed and thoroughly cleaned with an approved detergent, followed by steam cleaning.