The holiday season just got a little safer for Guam homes and businesses. The Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency says all fresh evergreens arriving on-island, including Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands — have been cleared of injurious pests after undergoing required fumigation.
Since November 12, officers with the Biosecurity Task Force have overseen the treatment of five shipping containers… holding more than 3,000 evergreen products. Each container is screened, sealed off, and treated with a calculated dose of methyl bromide gas before being released to consignees.
The fumigation mandate has been in place since 2016 — a safeguard supported by the Guam Invasive Species Council to prevent harmful pests and diseases from taking root in our local environment.
While this year’s shipments were clean, past fumigations have stopped everything from spiders and rodents to a garden snake and even a skunk.
Customs officers continue to screen cargo, passengers, and goods at Guam’s ports to protect the island from drugs, contraband, disease — and biosecurity threats during this busy travel and holiday season.