IMFO

IMFO is the international organisation of companies providing fumigation services aboard ships carrying cereal cargo

IMFO

IMFO is the international organisation of companies providing fumigation services aboard ships carrying cereal cargo. The IMFO was formed in 1994 by four companies based in Denmark, France, Spain and the United Kingdom. From as early as the following year, the organisation started growing steadily, admitting up to three new members almost every year.

APEL became a connected member of the organisation in 2008 and since 2009 has been a permanent member and representative of the IMFO in Greece.

Today, the IMFO has members from thirty (30) countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, India, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Vietnam and New Zealand.

 

All IMFO member-companies enjoy the advantages of operating as an international group or multinational company, which allows them to have access to:

  • the most modern technical data;
  • each member country’s safety data and specifications

so that they may provide their clients with:

  • valuable services and advice on authority requirements at discharge ports;
  • integrated services of cargo fumigation and ventilation, ensuring fast and safe unloading

IMFO members keep up to the principles of:

Safety

All services are provided in strict compliance with the United Nations International Maritime Organisations (IMO) recommendations.

Efficiency

Our network of companies ensures that procedures are carried out pursuant to the most modern know-how and that fumigation is controlled from load to discharge.

Economy

With our range of treatment options, you can select a treatment to the level of guarantee you require:

  • Fumigation at loading port
  • Fumigation at loading port, cargo ventilation at discharge port, gas measurement, including written discharge report and full warranty.

Availability

The size of the IMFO network allows us to organise or control fumigation procedures in almost any country in the world.

Port to Port Service (P2P)

P2P Service includes the following procedures:

  • Fumigation performed at loading port
  • Vessel departure for destination port
  • Reception of the vessel at destination port, cargo ventilation and issuing of all necessary unloading certificates, pursuant to local Port Authority requirements.

Ρ2Ρ is a necessary and often inevitable part of in-transit fumigation provided by IMFO members, since:

  • port authorities in different countries very often have varying and very specific norms on permissible levels of residue gas in imported cargo during the unloading of imported cereals;
  • only qualified fumigation companies, experienced and properly equipped, can perform ventilation of the fumigated goods and issuing of necessary certificates required for allowing the unloading of cargo at discharge port

From the IMFO visit to the Rotterdam Port Authority in October 2011

Advantages of Ρ2Ρ

  • Avoidance of demurrage costs and safeguarding the customer against unforeseeable / unknown factors that might cause problems to the in-transit fumigation; as well as ensuring the lowest possible cost for cargo ventilation, gas measurement and safe unloading operations
  • Application of a common, high-standard code for the safety and efficacy of in-transit cargo fumigation
  • High level of safety and efficacy for in-transit marine fumigation for the protection of ship crews
  • Warranty at destination port

Advantages of working with the IMFO

  • Worldwide service network
  • Worldwide service quality recognition
  • Unified procedures
  • High-quality products and services
  • Port to Port services
  • Guaranteed cargo fumigation safety and efficiency