Lesson 3: Phytosanitary Systems
Topic 5: Treatments
In this topic, we review the main concepts of phytosanitary treatments. Like inspections, treatments are also commonly used as a phytosanitary measure. Recall that a phytosanitary treatment is any “officially authorized procedure for the killing, removal, or rendering infertile of pests.”
Objectives:
- Describe the more common treatment options for pest risk management strategies.
There are numerous available and approved treatments with both chemical and non-chemical options. Chemical phytosanitary treatments are pesticides that are made from compounds naturally occurring in plants or synthesized from chemical compounds. Chemical treatments can often be used alone, without other treatment measures, to achieve a required target level of pest control. Non-chemical treatments utilize pest biology and are often based on maintaining the plant material at a specific temperature for a specified time. The specified temperature and time is established from research demonstrating the treatment’s effectiveness.
When comparing types of treatments, chemical and non-chemical treatments have both benefits and drawbacks.
The major benefits of using chemical pesticides are that they are highly effective, control pests quickly and easily, and are reasonably priced compared to other control options available. Unfortunately, some chemicals, like methyl bromide, could damage perishable commodities, such as stone fruits, and could negatively impact both human and environmental health.
Many non-chemical treatments (like heat or cold treatments) have the benefit of causing less damage to human and environmental health. However, sometimes they need to be used in combination with other treatments to achieve the desired level of control, which can become costly. Irradiation is a non-chemical treatment that is becoming more widely used because it is both safe and effective for many commodities. However, it requires a substantial initial capital investment and there must be consistent throughput throughout the year to make its use cost-effective. Below is a list of the more common treatments that meet phytosanitary requirements for many agriculture commodities.
| Chemical | Non-chemical |
|---|---|
|
• fumigation, chemical treatments
• aerosols, chemical treatment • dips, chemical treatments • dust, chemical treatments • sprays, chemical treatment |
• heat, non-chemical treatments
• cold treatment, non-chemical treatments • irradiation, non-chemical treatments |
With so many treatments to choose from, it may be beneficial to quickly review the process for selecting an appropriate treatment. This selection process is used no matter the circumstances.
Treatments are commonly used to mitigate pest risks. However, the selection of a treatment is dependent on specific circumstances. Once the treatment is carefully selected through the previous process, it is imperative that the treatment is carried out by an authorized or licensed group and that official records are maintained. Recall that these records will be scrutinized when applying for a phytosanitary certificate.
There are numerous treatments that can be used in countless situations. Each situation will require research into the best option for the circumstance. Please visit Module 12: Treatments for more detailed information on the more common types of phytosanitary treatments.
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