Approved Fumigation Centers

• Introduction to the service

  Accreditation allows factories to offer date fumigation services to third parties as a post-harvest service that benefits farmers, factories, and date-exporting companies. Exporters receive a certificate indicating that the dates have been treated with gases approved both locally and internationally.

• Service Objectives

  • Ensuring the Safety of Dates from Insect Infestations
  • Governance of Date Fumigation Processes and Issuance of Certificates
  • Compliance with International Requirements for Fumigation Standards

• Requirements

  • The presence of an industrial license.
  • The factory or service center must hold the Saudi Dates Mark, and its validity should be current.
  • Disclosure of fumigation materials and their sources to the National Center for Palms and Dates.
  • Compliance with the use of internationally approved fumigation materials, recognized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, at appropriate concentrations specifically for fumigating food products, particularly dates.
  • Availability of suitable fumigation chambers that meet the specifications ensuring the proper treatment of dates.

• Frequently asked questions about the service

  What is the approved fumigation material

  The approved fumigation material is a mixture of ethyl formate gas (HCOOC₂H₅) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).

  Which importing countries require date fumigation

  • Republic of India
  • Republic of Indonesia

  Does fumigation apply only to importing countries that require it

  No, fumigation requirements may also be part of specific requests from date-importing companies worldwide.

  What is the concentration of each fumigant substance

  • Concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2): 83.3%
  • Concentration of Ethyl Formate (HCOOC2H5): 16.7%