USDA - APHIS - Plant Health, Plant Protection and Quarantine

Center for Plant Health Science and Technology

Treatment Quality Assurance Unit

Location: 1730 Varsity Dr., Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 855-7450
Fax: (919) 855-7493
Contact: Scott Wood

The Treatment Quality Assurance Unit (TQAU) safeguards American agriculture and natural resources by developing, adapting, and supporting technology to detect, identify, and mitigate the risk posed by exotic pests in preclearance programs and at ports-of-entry. APHIS’ last line of defense preventing an exotic pest invasion is the commodity treatment that mitigates this risk. Currently, core activities within TQAU include developing quarantine treatments, contributing to the treatment manual for ports-of-entry, certifying shipping containers and vessels, maintaining the Commodity Treatment Information System (CTIS), training-the-trainer for proper application of treatments, certifying commodity treatment facilities within foreign countries, and conducting quality assurance audits of treatments performed domestically and at foreign sites.

Recent Accomplishments

Developed two new databases for the CTIS: a new version of the Fumigation Form 429 Database and an export module for the Irradiation Reporting and Accountability Database.
Continued support and expansion of remaining CTIS sites for APHIS and industry use, including the 556 In-transit Cold Treatment Database, Niger Seed Database, the Irradiation Reporting and Accountability Database, the Treatment Index Database, and the Vessels and Containers Database.
Compared infrared and thermal conductivity methyl bromide concentration monitors and provided operational guidance regarding purchasing and use.
Re-certified irradiation facilities in India; approved mango hot water facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, and Haiti; approved fumigation chamber in the United States and South Korea; approved cold treatment warehouses in South Korea; approved and certified of Niger seed facility in Ethiopia; re-certified of Niger seed facilities in the United States.
For in-transit cold treatment of fruit: certified 113,239 self-refrigerated containers, certified 50 vessels, approved plans for 4 new vessels, approved 8 warehouses, approved 20 new types of equipment, and approved installation of new equipment on 5 vessels.
Maintained existing ISO 9001:2008 registration for cold treatment and irradiation processes and added a new irradiation process to the ISO registry. Developed an application for fumigation chambers to be used in future ISO treatment.
Continued electronic indexing of documents in the TQAU library in an effort to develop a paperless electronic system for AQI treatments, policies, and research literature. The multiple-year process has accumulated a grand total of 17,000 documents.
Developed new heat treatment of dried plant material for plant pathogen bacteria.
Developed new hot water treatment for propagative plant material not tolerant to fumigation.
Developed new cold treatment for snails on food/feed commodities.
Worked with the PPQ Professional Development Center to create training materials for cold treatment vessels inspection, mango hot water program, irradiation program, and Fumigation Form 429 Database.
Provided 150+ treatment recommendations for PPQ officers and stakeholders. The historical references as well as all new recommendations are now held in newly-developed Endnote Treatment Recommendation Library.
Approved control atmosphere bags for cold treatments of blueberries.
Approved a new process for conducting containerized log export fumigations.
Reviewed quarantine treatment research for high-risk pests.
Developed research protocols aimed at developing methyl bromide, cold, hot water, vapor heat, and ozone treatment schedules for high-risk pests.
Reviewed treatment proposals for the International Plant Protection Convention Technical Panel on Phytosanitary Treatments.
Developed and approved process designs for containerized and large scale log and produce fumigations.
Evaluated new technologies for remote monitoring (monitoring from extended distances outside of buffer zone) for chemical and non-chemical treatments and aeration.
Evaluated the effects of irradiation on blueberries and peaches for export to Mexico, which was funded by a Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops grant from the Foreign Agricultural Service.
Compiled extensive methyl bromide usage studies for 2005-2010, including data on commodity, country of origin, reporting station, schedule, and contractor.

Links

New Projects

Evaluating new technologies for remote monitoring (monitoring from extended distances outside of buffer zone) for chemical and non-chemical treatments and aeration.
Investigating the use of fluorinated high density polyethylene (HDPE) to minimize sorption of fumigant in monitoring and introduction lines.
Determining the effects of irradiation on blueberries and peaches for export to Mexico (funded by a Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) grant from Foreign Agricultural Service).