INTRESO Group

South Korea Registers eFUME® as an Environmentally Sustainable Post-Harvest Fumigation Treatment Option

Peter van der Ven — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 08:00:19 +0000

26 July 2024 – International Treatment Solutions (INTRESO) Group announces the registration of eFUME^® by South Korea’s Rural Development Administration. This significant milestone marks an important step forward for the agricultural sector in South Korea and further demonstrates the rapidly growing demand for sustainable fumigation products across the globe.

eFUME^®is a safe and effective solution for protecting post-harvest produce, packaged and stored foods, and processing equipment. Suited to a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, cut flowers, its active ingredient, ethyl formate, is a naturally occurring substance with zero ozone-depleting potential. It is a direct, cost effective, drop-in replacement for methyl bromide, an ozone depleting-substance currently widely used for fumigation in South Korea and globally. eFUME^® is already registered and used in Australia and New Zealand, both major, global, agricultural exporters.

Methyl bromide is controlled under international climate agreements and has severe impacts on the environment and human health. It is estimated that 1kg of methyl bromide destroys approximately 4.2 tonnes of ozone. However, the registration of eFUME^®means the South Korean agricultural sector can now access and use an environmentally sustainable alternative to legacy products, enabling the industry to reduce its climate impact while protecting supply chains and biosecurity.

The 1987 Montreal Protocol committed the international community, including South Korea, to end their use of methyl bromide in order to protect the ozone layer. Despite these efforts, nearly 2000 tonnes of methyl bromide is still used in South Korea for fumigation annually. This new registration means South Korea is the first country in the Asia Pacific region to register eFUME^® demonstrating a strong commitment to its multilateral environmental obligations, and clear intent to reduce methyl bromide use.

Responding to the news, Kade McConville, Executive Director of INTRESO, said:

“The approval of eFUME® by the Government of South Korea is a welcome step forward for the agricultural sector, who now have the opportunity to end the use of methyl bromide. This decision reflects the growing demand from both industry and regulators for access to effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives to legacy products.

“I am excited to see increasing momentum behind the registration and adoption of alternative solutions in the industry, and look forward to other countries in the Asia Pacific region – and across the world – following South Korea’s example.”

INTRESO writes to EU Commission to highlight availability of alternatives to sulfuryl fluoride

Peter van der Ven — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 04:55:55 +0000

EU Commission Standing Committee on Biocidal Products on 21 June will vote on a proposal to ban sulfuryl fluoride due to risks to human health posed by its use.
Sulfuryl fluoride, a synthetic greenhouse gas used to fumigate agricultural and forestry products traded inside and outside of the EU, is extremely harmful to the environment.
INTRESO’s effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives to sulfuryl fluoride, EDN™ and BLUEFUME™, are drop-in replacements for the chemical and already used internationally in countries such as Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, France, Germany Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, South Korea, Turkey and South Africa.

Antwerp, Belgium, 19 June 2024 – International Treatment Solutions (INTRESO) Group has written to the EU Commission’s Standing Committee on Biocidal Products to highlight the availability of safe, effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives to sulfuryl fluoride, ahead of a 21 June meeting which will consider a ban of the chemical for the preservation treatment of wood [PT8], and as an insecticide and acaricide for the control of insects and arachnids [PT18].

On 21 June, representatives from EU Member States will vote on a proposal to ban the use of sulfuryl fluoride, an extremely harmful synthetic greenhouse gas with a global warming potential more than 4500 times that of carbon dioxide, for these fumigation purposes. In what amounts to an effective ban, the EU is considering withdrawing approvals for the continued biocidal use of sulfuryl fluoride, due to a lack of data on the potential risks to human health posed by the chemical.

INTRESO Group produces BLUEFUME™, a highly effective and environmentally sustainable drop-in replacement for sulfuryl fluoride. BLUEFUME™ is the latest iteration of a tried and tested chemical, HCN, successfully used around the world for decades. INTRESO Group’s product is fully approved in numerous markets including in the EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Morocco and South Africa. Most recently, it has been put through rigorous testing and approval processes in Australia in 2023, with subsequent regulatory approval demonstrating impressive results against the latest standards.

Effective and economical, BLUEFUME™ breaks down into naturally occurring substances, meaning it also has a far lower environmental footprint than sulfuryl fluoride.

Besides being a Biocidal Product, sulfuryl fluoride is also a Plant Protection Product for the treatment of tree logs exported from the EU. In which case, additionally, INTRESO Group’s proprietary product, Ethanedinitrile (EDN™), is a highly effective and environmentally sustainable drop-in replacement for sulfuryl fluoride and has already been approved for the fumigation of timber and wood products in countries including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Malaysia, Uruguay, South Africa and Turkey. EDN was also successfully used over successive years in the Czech Republic under emergency use authorization during their recent bark beetle outbreak. This demonstrates that other major agricultural exporters have moved faster than the EU in approving alternative chemicals which adhere to stringent modern safety and environmental standards.

Moreover, INTRESO Group has registered eFUME™ containing ethyl formate which is Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) status by US FDA. eFumeTM is used for edible dry stored products and fresh fruits commodities for controlling insects in Australia and New Zealand. It is in the process of submission in the EU.

Commenting on the potential new restrictions on the use of sulfuryl fluoride in the EU, Kade McConville, Executive Director of INTRESO Group said:

“The claims that there is no available and highly effective alternative to sulfuryl fluoride for biocidal and plant protection use are simply not true. Our products, including EDN™ and BLUEFUME, are drop-in replacements that have been shown to be efficient under a wider set of climatic conditions than sulfuryl fluoride. With increasing evidence as to the harms to human health and the planet resulting from sulfuryl fluoride, it is vitally important that EU decision-makers consider and understand the fact that alternative solutions are readily available for use in European fumigation, and that whilst sulfuryl fluoride is a tool, it is not the only tool in the toolbox.

Ahead of this pivotal vote, I have written to the Commission to make clear that our innovative, environmentally sustainable solutions already provide an effective alternative to sulfuryl fluoride in forward-thinking countries with some of the strictest biosecurity standards, including Australia and New Zealand.”

INTRESO incorporates Draslovka Agricultural Solutions and is going worldwide

Peter van der Ven — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 18:59:39 +0000

INTRESO Group to become a stand-alone entity offering end-to-end sustainable alternative solutions and treatments for agricultural and forestry sectors.
Growth potential offered by the acceleration in momentum behind registration and commercialization of next-generation fumigants and biocides.
INTRESO Group will incorporate the existing Agricultural Solutions business and hold exclusive rights to Draslovka proprietary products, including Ethanedinitrile (EDN™), BLUEFUME™ and eFUME™.

Draslovka a.s, a global leader of sustainability-led technologies, solutions and services, announces the consolidation of its activities currently centered on the Draslovka Agricultural Solutions into a stand-alone business under the International Treatment Solutions Group (“INTRESO”) brand. Operating along industry verticals as a dedicated product and services supplier, INTRESO and its management team will focus on growth and accelerating the market roll out of Draslovka’s range of next generation fumigations and biocides dedicated to bringing alternative, environmentally sustainable solutions.

The consolidation under the INTRESO brand completes the integration of Descroes (Belgium), Fumico (NL), and DDD (Slovenia), three of Europe’s leading specialist pest control treatment providers for the global logistics industry, acquired by Draslovka in 2022. Through exclusive access to Draslovka’s portfolio of environmentally sustainable solutions, including Ethanedinitrile (EDNTM), BLUEFUMETM and eFUMETM, INTRESO will offer a drop-in replacement for existing products for its market-leading application service, offering customers an environmentally sustainable end-to-end service.

This strategic move has been taken following successful new product registrations in recent years in markets including Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Profitable core operations will enable INTRESO to continue to achieve sustainable growth and reinvest in the continuous development of its sustainable solutions. The new entity will also be exploring opportunities to partner with others in the industry who share the ambition to lower emissions from fumigation.

INTRESO will continue to be led by Kade McConville, who takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the new entity, and its global headquarters will be located in Antwerp, Belgium.

Pavel Bruzek Jr, CEO of Draslovka commented:

“I am incredibly proud of the progress our Agricultural Solutions business has made in recent years to bring Draslovka’s environmentally sustainable solutions for biosecurity in the agricultural and forestry sectors to market. By creating new opportunities to partner with the wider industry and regulators across the world, the launch of INTRESO Group will only accelerate this process.

I look forward to continuing to work closely with Kade and the INTRESO team as they continue to drive sustainable transformation of global supply chains of critical commodities.”

Kade McConville, CEO of INTRESO Group added:

“Our products and treatment options, which are more environmentally sustainable than any other solution on the market today, are fast gaining traction. The consolidation of our products and services under the INTRESO Group creates the chance to accelerate the process of bringing our solutions to market, and see them thrive.

With a profitable core business, the INTRESO Group offers the fumigation and logistics industries a reliable and ambitious partner on the journey to adopt environmentally sustainable solutions at scale.”

About Draslovka

Draslovka a.s. (“Draslovka”) is a chemical technologies, products and services company creating value and improving sustainability in several industries, including mining, agriculture and manufacturing. Today, Draslovka is best known as the world’s largest producer of sodium cyanide, a chemical vital for gold mining however its most important contribution to the sector is its Glycine Leaching Technology (“GLT”), the company’s proprietary technology that leaches metals (including gold, copper, nickel and cobalt) in a more sustainable and economic manner. Draslovka also manufactures other specialist chemicals and reagents and provides class-leading chemical application services to the mining and pest control industries as well as AI-enabled support services.

About INTRESO Group

INTRESO Group provides global trial support, application and product development consulting, as well as registration and business and commercialisation development support for suppliers, distributors, and customers. Draslovka’s product portfolio of environmentally sustainable fumigants and biocides, EDNTM, BLUEFUMETM and eFUMETM, and its vertically integrated application services in Europe fills a gap in industry between the manufacturer and the end-user, enabling a direct link to ensure seamless custom application development and field trial support.

Torqx sells Intreso Group to Draslovka

Marleen — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 08:15:35 +0000

Torqx Capital Partners (“Torqx”) is pleased to announce it has sold its majority share in Intreso Group (“Intreso”), a leading platform and technology centre for specialized pest control treatment services with operations across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, to Draslovka Holdings a.s. (“Draslovka”), a Czech Republic-based, global, family-owned, leader in CN-based speciality chemicals, including next generation fumigants and biocides.

Intreso is the result of an international buy-and-build by Torqx, together with its co-shareholders and management, and currently consists of three operational businesses: Descroes in Belgium (acquired in 2019), Fumico in the Netherlands (acquired in 2020) and DDD in Slovenia (acquired in 2021). Going forward, Intreso will form part of Draslovka’s Agricultural Solutions business, enabling Draslovka to significantly expand its vertically integrated service offering in Europe. The Intreso team, led by CEO Filip Herremans, is excited to become part of the Draslovka family and to work with the Draslovka teams to further develop the business together.

CEO Filip Herremans commented:

“Intreso, as being the leader on the European market in specialized goods and cargo treatment services will become part of Draslovka’s Agricultural Solutions business. Intreso will benefit from Draslovka’s production, distribution, regulatory affairs and commercialization of environmentally sustainable agricultural products which are set to revolutionize the fumigation and phytosanitary treatment industry globally.”

Cedric De Dycker and Laurent Blumberg of Torqx said:

“Intreso Group has become the clear European market leader in mission critical pest control treatment services for the global trade and cargo market. We would like to thank management, the entire Intreso team and our co-shareholders Maxim Van Hoorebeeck, Johan van Meijel and José van Uffelen. We believe that together with Draslovka, Intreso will be able to accelerate its international expansion and further strengthen its European leadership position.”

For this transaction, William Blair acted as corporate finance advisor to the sellers, DLA Piper acted as legal advisor, and Deloitte provided the financial and tax vendor due diligence.

About Intreso Group

Intreso is a leading European player in pest control treatment services of cargo and goods. The group offers end-to-end specialist treatment solutions for goods owners, terminal operators, traders, freight forwarders and shipping lines ensuring that their sensitive goods such as tree logs, soft commodities and breakbulk are treated in accordance with the highest industry standards and with the appropriate phytosanitary requirements and certification. The group is headquartered in Antwerp and is active with a team of more than 100 specialists in all major seaports and inland ports or storage facilities in the Benelux, such as Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. For more information, please visit: www.intreso.com

About Draslovka

Draslovka Holdings a.s. (Draslovka) is a global leader in cyanide-based chemical specialties and agricultural chemicals including next generation fumigants and biocides. A private holding company based in the Czech Republic, it is owned by four Czech families collaborating within a framework of bpd partners, a leading family office based in Prague. Draslovka has more than 100 years of experience in hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production and HCN chemistry and specializes in the production of fully synthetic and highly purified liquid HCN, which undergoes further processing for application in a variety of downstream products ranging from the mining through to agriculture sectors. Draslovka aims to be a leading global player in the production of cyanides for use in synthesis, mining, and industrial and agricultural applications.

Recently patented low pressure CO2 method® is effective, sustainable and fast

Maurice — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 20:00:46 +0000

In response to the increasing demand for non-toxic methods of pest control in the (organic) food and feed sector, Intreso Group has developed a patented application for the low-pressure CO₂(carbon dioxide) treatment chamber.

Safe and responsible

CO₂ is approved for the treatment of organic products. The treatment of foodstuffs for human and animal consumption with CO₂ is completely safe. Carbon dioxide does not affect the product and does not leave any (harmful) substances behind. The CO₂ used in this process is extracted sustainably from (industrial) sources, from which no new emissions are released.

Short treatment duration and lower costs

The rate of decomposition in low-oxygen methods depends mainly on temperature. By using the combination of CO₂ and a sophisticated heating and evaporation technique, the ideal recipe is created to successfully kill pests. Thanks to this unique application, this treatment requires no more than 3-6 days, much faster than regular N₂ treatments that take 12-15 days on average. The short treatment duration, together with low energy consumption, makes this unique technique by far the most economical of all alternative treatment methods.

The treatments take place in the specially developed SKAL Bio Controle / TÜV Nord certified treatment rooms of Intreso, but also at the client’s location, where a fully customised treatment room can be built.

“In recent years we have seen an increase in demand for alternative solutions to toxic gas methods in the food, feed and commodity industries. With the unique treatment method we have developed, we can now meet this demand in an environmentally friendly, safe and highly efficient manner at a very attractive price.”

Filip Herremans, CEO Intreso Group

DDD d.o.o. based in Koper/Slovenia joins Intreso Group

Maurice — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 13:15:23 +0000

DDD d.o.o. based in Koper/Slovenia joins Intreso Group as the leading Slovenian specialist in certified pest control treatment services of goods and cargo.

Intreso Group B.V. and its shareholders are pleased to announce the successful acquisition ofDDD d.o.o. in Slovenia in partnership with one of its previous owners and managing director Zlatko Dakič.

As a result of this transaction, Intreso is expanding its European footprint in the Adriatic region. The acquisition further solidifies Intreso’s position as a leading European platform and technology center for all specialist treatment solutions and customized pest control services for all types of cargo and goods. DDD is the third leading local brand to become part of the Intreso Group, after Descroes in Belgium and Fumico in the Netherlands.

Zlatko Dakič, Managing Director and previous owner of DDD d.o.o. added; “We are very excited to be joining Intreso and look forward to working together with Descroes and Fumico under the umbrella of a group that shares the same passion for niche treatment solutions as we do. This a great opportunity for us to grow and we are convinced that with the support of our partners we will strengthen our position in Slovenia and offer an even greater service to our existing customer base.”

Filip Herremans, CEO of Intreso Group: “The acquisition of DDD d.o.o marks an important milestone for Intreso Group as it is looking to expand further in strategic hubs across Europe by leveraging on our industry-leading know-how and entrepreneurial spirit to accelerate growth of regional leading specialist treatment companies. The Adriatic hub is very important to us and DDD is an indispensable player in the region. As such I am looking forward to further develop the partnership spirit and collaboration within the entire Intreso team, and to support DDD into its next phase of development.”

About Intreso

About DDD

DDD is a leading Slovenian provider of fumigation treatments and pest control services related to in- and outgoing cargo in the port of Koper (Slovenia) as well as inland food storage facilities. The Company was founded by Milos Dakič over [50] years ago and is headquartered in Koper. For more information please visit: http://ddd-koper.si/

Descroes and Fumico join forces under the umbrella of Intreso Group

Maurice — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 13:15:51 +0000

Descroes and Fumico join forces under the umbrella of Intreso Group as the leading Benelux specialist in certified goods treatment and fumigation services.

Descroes Holding B.V. and its shareholders Torqx Capital Partners and Maxim van Hoorebeeck are pleased to announce that they have entered into a partnership with Johan van Meijel and José van Uffelen, the current owners of Fumico Holding B.V. and its affiliated companies (“Fumico”) regarding the acquisition of Fumico.

Whilst Descroes and Fumico will continue to operate under their own name in Belgium respectively the Netherlands, the group will henceforth be known as Intreso Group (“International Treatment Solutions”), representing the leading operational platform and technology center for all specialist goods treatment services around pest control for in- and outgoing cargo in ports, such as fumigation, heat-treatment, low-oxygen bio treatment methods, QPS, gas measurements and customized pest control services. The group offers end-to-end specialist treatment solutions for goods owners, terminal operators, traders, freight forwarders and shipping lines ensuring that their sensitive goods such as tree logs, soft commodities and breakbulk are treated in accordance with the highest industry standards and with the appropriate phytosanitary requirements and certification. The group is headquartered in Antwerp and is active with a team of more than 70 specialists in all major seaports and inland ports in the Benelux, such as Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Johan van Meijel and José van Uffelen, current owners of Fumico: ”We are highly enthusiastic in joining forces with Descroes and building a European leader in our niche industry segment. We aim to be at the forefront of our industry, combining all the capabilities and know-how in the group to continuously innovate and develop new technologies, processes and services to enhance our offering to our customers. Together, we have set ambitious growth targets for both Descroes and Fumico, and will pursue further add-on acquisitions to expand our European footprint.”

Filip Herremans, CEO of Intreso Group: “By combining their strengths, both Descroes and Fumico will be able to provide an even better service to customers, ensuring an end-to-end solution for all their specialist goods treatment needs in and around every major port across the entire Benelux and beyond. I am looking forward to the partnership and the collaboration with the entire Fumico team, and to leading the entire group into its next phase of development.”

About Fumico

Fumico was founded in 2010 and is a leading Dutch specialist goods treatment company, focusing on fumigation of tree logs and soft commodities, heat treatment services, the application of low oxygen bio treatment methods, Quarantaine and Pre-Shipment (“QPS”) and the use of controlled atmosphere chambers. Fumico is headquartered in Enschede, the Netherlands, and has operations in amongst others Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Numansdorp, Born and Enschede. For more information, please visit: www.fumico.nl

About Descroes

Descroes is a leading Belgian provider of fumigation, heat treatment, bio treatments, gas measurement and pest control services related to in- and outgoing cargo in ports. The Company was founded over 80 years ago, is headquartered in Antwerp and covers all relevant ports of Belgium such as Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Liège, Genk, Brussels and Arlon. For more information please visit: www.descroes.be