Rules on Formaldehyde Cause Backlog at Ports

(CBC News)

New rules to test fumes in containers that arrive at Canadian ports have resulted in a huge backlog of containers for inspection, according to port authorities.

The Canada Border Services Agency now requires employees to test all marine containers for fumigants, including formaldehyde, which was added to the list in June. Since then, port authorities say many more containers have tested positive, meaning they’re too dangerous for inspectors to continue examining.

In the Port of Halifax, where thousands of containers arrive each week, every container that has arrived in the last three weeks and has been targeted for testing has come up positive.

“The Port Authority takes very seriously anything that causes delays in the supply chain and customers of the port are looking for consistency and reliability, and they’ve brought this matter to our attention,” said the Halifax port’s manager of business development, Patrick Bohan.

“We’re very concerned about it, and we urge CBSA to work to improve the process to basically minimize the delays in the process.”

At Maritime Ontario’s Dartmouth warehouse, dozens of containers are sitting idle while they are being aired out and ventilated with fans, which is done when an unacceptable level of fumigants is detected.

Current testing done by the CBSA checks for six common fumigants, now including formaldehyde – a chemical commonly found in glue and used in everything from cars to furniture. Some experts say formaldehyde is an allergen or skin irritant that can lead to cancer if people are exposed to very small amounts over long periods of time.

The CBSA said the health of its employees is its top priority. “At no time will the CBSA compromise the health and safety of its employees. CBSA has the appropriate measures in place to protect its employees from any possible exposure to hazardous chemicals,” the CBSA said in a statement.

The union representing port inspectors, however, said it believes the new tests may be coming up with false positives. “Our officers are very eager to see some of the hiccups, some of the problems, with testing be resolved so they can get back to doing more fully their job of protecting Canadians,” said Brett Evans, the branch president in Halifax.

The CBSA has said it is looking into new “highly sensitive detection technology” that may make the testing process more efficient.