container box © Pisanu Kusonsaratool
© Pisanu Kusonsaratool

The Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) has warned that the “biggest issue since VGM [container weighing]” is on the cards.

This week GSF met with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in Arizona. IPPC is investigating concerns that parasites and other invasive species are being spread globally on the outside of containers, contributing to the demise of local ecodiversity.

“It’s a big issue,” said James Hookham, secretary general of GSF. “There is heightened anxiety that contaminating species are travelling on containers via bird poo, snails ...

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  • Paul Nicholson

    October 25, 2018 at 6:36 am

    An interesting read , at least on a vessel or aircraft there is some sort of “containment” , but with the rail- Silk Road rail movements , how many countries do the containers pass through on rail ? and how many potential “pick up & drop off “ for bugs?

    • James Hookham

      October 25, 2018 at 5:01 pm

      Great point, Paul. Thanks for the comment. Agree Silk Road opens a whole new frontier! Contamination left inside the container (and truck) is as big a concern so we need container packers and hauliers to ‘Think Bug’ and take responsibility.