Stack Fumigation in Kenya

Your Guide to Pest-Free Exports

What is Stack Fumigation? A Key Step for Kenyan Exporters

Stack fumigation in Kenya is the process of treating stacked goods—such as tea, coffee, grains, or timber—with fumigants to eliminate pests and ensure compliance with international phytosanitary standards. Kenya, a major exporter of agricultural products, relies on stack fumigation to meet regulations like the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), which requires pest-free shipments for wooden packaging materials. Fumigation targets pests like beetles, weevils, and moths that can infest goods during storage or transit.

For Kenyan exporters, stack fumigation services are essential to avoid shipment rejections and maintain market access in regions like the EU, US, and Middle East. Polucon provides expert stack fumigation in Nairobi and Mombasa to ensure your goods are pest-free and compliant.

Ensuring ISPM 15 Compliance for Exports

ISPM 15 compliance is mandatory for wooden packaging materials used in international trade. This standard requires that wooden pallets and packaging be treated to eliminate pests, either through stack fumigation or heat treatment of wooden pallets. Without proper treatment, shipments can be rejected at the port of entry. For example, in 2024, a Kenyan coffee exporter lost $200,000 when a shipment to the EU was rejected due to pest infestation in untreated wooden pallets.

Protecting Product Quality

Pests like weevils can damage agricultural products during storage and transit, leading to quality degradation. Stack fumigation ensures your tea, coffee, or grains remain intact and meet buyer expectations.

Avoiding Financial Losses

Rejected shipments result in financial losses, including shipping costs, penalties, and lost contracts. Pest control for exports through stack fumigation or heat treatment helps avoid these risks.

Supporting Kenya’s Export Reputation

Kenya’s agricultural exports are a cornerstone of its economy. Ensuring pest-free shipments through proper treatment maintains the country’s reputation for high-quality products in global markets.

Learn more about our insights on ensuring export quality.

The Stack Fumigation Process in Kenya

Stack fumigation involves several steps to ensure effective pest control:

• Inspection: Assess the stack for pest activity and determine the appropriate fumigant (e.g., methyl bromide, phosphine).
• Sealing: Cover the stack with gas-tight tarps to contain the fumigant and ensure thorough penetration.
• Fumigation: Introduce the fumigant and maintain exposure for the required duration (typically 24-48 hours) to eliminate pests.
• Ventilation: Aerate the stack to remove residual fumigant, ensuring the goods are safe for handling.
• Certification: Issue a phytosanitary certificate confirming ISPM 15 compliance for export.

Proper stack fumigation ensures your goods are pest-free and ready for international markets.

Polucon’s Stack Fumigation Services in Kenya

Polucon offers professional stack fumigation services to help Kenyan exporters meet international standards. Our services in Nairobi and Mombasa include:

• Stack Fumigation for Agricultural Exports: Treat tea, coffee, grains, and other products to ensure pest-free shipments. Learn more about our stack fumigation services.
• ISPM 15 Compliance: Fumigate wooden pallets and packaging materials to meet global phytosanitary standards.
• Heat Treatment of Wooden Pallets: As an alternative to fumigation, we provide heat treatment services, heating wooden pallets to a core temperature of 56°C for 30 minutes to eliminate pests, in line with ISPM 15 requirements.
• Pest Inspection & Monitoring: Identify pest risks before treatment to ensure effective fumigation or heat treatment.
• Phytosanitary Certification: Provide certificates for export compliance with international regulations, whether using fumigation or heat treatment.
• Customized Solutions: Tailor fumigation and heat treatment plans to your specific products and export requirements.

Our team uses safe, approved methods—whether fumigation or heat treatment—to deliver reliable results for your export needs.

Why Choose Polucon for Stack Fumigation in Kenya?

Polucon is a trusted partner for stack fumigation and heat treatment in East Africa, serving exporters across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Here’s why you should choose us:

• Expertise in Export Compliance: We ensure your shipments meet ISPM 15 and other international standards through fumigation or heat treatment.
• Local Presence: With operations in Nairobi and Mombasa, we provide fast, on-site stack fumigation and heat treatment services.
• Proven Success: In 2024, Polucon helped a Mombasa-based tea exporter meet EU standards with heat-treated pallets, securing a $300,000 contract.
• Safe & Effective Methods: We use approved fumigants and heat treatment processes to protect your goods and workers.
• Fast Turnaround: Get fumigation, heat treatment, and certification done quickly to meet export deadlines.

Contact Polucon today for a free stack fumigation or heat treatment assessment to ensure your exports are pest-free!