Lidl mold prevention guidance version 1 19_aug2016

Mould Prevention Guide Issue date 19 Aug. 2016
General guidance to solutions for mould related issues on products Version 1
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Mould prevention guide (MPR/08/16)
Mould Prevention Guide

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Table of contents
1 Introduction Page 3
2 Mould definition Page 3
3 Mould identification Page 3
4 Products that are most susceptible to Mould growth Page 3
5 Environment and conditions for Mould growth Page 4
6 Mould preventive action Page 4
7 Process control in the factory/warehouse Page 8
8 Ocean Container Defect Reference Guide Page 11
9 Appendix 1 - 7 point inspection Page 12
10 Appendix 2 - 7 point inspection Page 13
11 Appendix 3 - Examples for container defects Page 15
12 Appendix 4 – Contact details for desiccant Page 16

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1. Introduction
There are risks of product recall due to risks of mould exposure and products damaged by mould are
often rejected by retailers or returned by customers, with the risk of claims or litigation and damage to a
company‘s reputation.
Chemicals used in the past to tackle and prevent mould face increasingly tight restrictions, with many
now banned in the USA and Europe, example- Dimethylfumarate (DMFu).
Mould is a problem usually found only when a shipment has arrived at its destination, so making it
difficult to resolve and costly.
2. Mould definition
Mould is a type of fungus (spore), it needs water to grow. It also needs a food source, oxygen, carbon or
nitrogen and a temperature between 5°c and 37°c to grow. It can grow on wood, paper and other
materials made from wood along with textiles. Moulds prefer damp, dark or steam filled or wet
areas/material.
3. Mould identification
In general, Mould presence itself as a black, blue or green spot on the surface of a product.
Identification can be performed through a third party laboratory.
 A Total Plate Count method to verify the presence of fungus on product.
 A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to verify the fungus type.
4. Products that are most susceptible to Mould growth
Wood, bamboo (Bamboo and wood products are recommended use anti-stain treatment which
provides a microscopic barrier against moulds that last from 3-6 months, as well as heat treatment to
prevent mould and insects.), wicker, willow, grass, hyacinth, glue, paint, products that utilize man-made
fibres, paper board and processed materials such as particle board and MDF.
Fabric (cotton, linen, rayon, wool, silk and synthetic fibres) along with leathers can also suffer with
growth of mould, and unless treated material the method of storage and transportation are important
in controlling its growth.
IMPORTANT: Any treatments must be fully compliant with USA & EU regulations, REACH Directive

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5. Environment and conditions for Mould growth
 Nutrients: Cellulose is a common food for spores in an indoor environment. It is the part of the cell wall
of green plants.
 Moisture: Moisture is required to begin the decaying process caused by the mould.
 Time: Mould growth begins between 24 hours and 10 days from the provision of the growing conditions.
There is no known way to date Mould.
6. Mould preventive action
If Mould is identified, the supplier should evaluate the cause of the incident by way of an investigation
of their manufacturing process, packaging method and cargo loading procedure.
Below are some aspects that can be suggested to the supplier for reference but a concrete action plan
should depend on actual situation.
6.1 Control of raw material:
1. Raw materials (refer to point 3)that are deemed to be high risk with regards to Mould growth
should be kept in low humidity conditions (under 60% relative humidity) and room temperature
(25-30°C )
2. Before the raw material enters the manufacturing flow, make sure that biocides have been
added to the raw material or a pre-treatment (bleaching, sunlight exposure (U.V. lights see point
3) are taken place to ensure the raw material is bacteria free.
3. U.V. treatment: Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that
uses ultraviolet (UV) light at sufficiently short wavelength to kill or inactivate microorganisms. It
is used in a variety of applications, such as food, air, and water purification. UVGI utilises short-
wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) that is harmful to microorganisms. It is effective in
destroying the nucleic acids in these organisms so that their DNA is disrupted by the UV
radiation, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions.
NOTE: This should not be considered a sole method of controlling mould growth and the use of
the correct lamps is essential.
IMPORTANT: BIOCIDES SUCH AS DIMETYLFUMARATE (DMFu) HAVE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE
EUROPEAN UNION, REFER TO THE BIOCIDAL PRODUCTS DIRECTIVE.
6.2 Monitoring of moisture level:
1. Set up drying procedure in between process and maintain a tracking system to monitor it.
We recommend the use of a hygrometer to test moisture levels.
2. Inline check for moisture content.
3. The moisture meter should be calibrated regularly to ensure its accuracy

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6.3 Storage of product:
The storage area of finished product should follow the guideline below:
1. Clean the store room regularly to remove dust and water.
2. Use fans to circulate the air.
3. Check the temperature and humidity in your store room daily. Try to keep indoor humidity
below 60% relative humidity (ideally, it should be at 30-50%). Use a moisture or humidity meter
to measure the relative humidity level.
4. Audit for condensation and moisture on a regular basis.
5. In cases where humidity levels exceed 60%, regulate the humidity immediately, perform
moisture level inspection and if the moisture level exceeds the limit proceed with the drying
process again
6. Separate old materials from current and new materials to avoid dust migration and Mould
contamination.
6.4 Installation of desiccant:
Different desiccants are suited to different functions. Silica gel and Calcium Chloride (CaCl) are the most
common type of desiccant. The amount of desiccant should depend on the size of container. For
detailed dosage and application always refer to the desiccant instructions.
Below is are some dosage guides (always check with the desiccant supplier)
1. Silica gel should be applied to inner carton of products. – not the case for European Union
Reference dosage (silica):
Carton Volume( m3
) Weight of desiccant bag (g)
<0.001 1 - 3g
0.01 0.05 3 - 15g
0.05 - 0.1 15 - 30g
0.1 - 0.3 30 - 100g
0.3 - 0.5 100 - 150g
0.5 - 1 150 - 300g
2. CaCl should be applied to cargo containers.
Reference dosage (Calcium Chloride):
Container Size 20’ 40’ 40HC 45’
kg of Desiccant 8 - 10 15 - 20 19 - 24 22 - 27
IMPORTANT: SILICA GEL SACHETS CAN CONTAIN BIOCIDES SUCH AS DIMETYLFUMARATE (dimethyl (E)-
butenedioate), DMFu WHICH HAVE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

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PROPER DESICCANT SPECIFICATION/STORAGE
Each desiccant pack should come from supplier in individual, sealed bags only to be opened at time of
placement in the container. Ideally, multiple packs would be aggregated in a larger bag placed inside a
carton to protect the integrity of the individual packs. All desiccant materials should be stored in an
environment safe from weather and secure from accidental damage. Any packs showing leakage
(punctures or tears) are not to be used and should be discarded.
6.5 Cargo loading inspection:
The cargo inspection provides an evidence for the factory to proof that certain security precautions have
been performed. Therefore, it is important to establish a document procedure to record every cargo
inspection, a detailed image and inspection criteria should be included.
1. Record the size of the container
2. Check for any damage on the containers such as holes or gaps in the walls/roof or on the floor
3. Doors should be closed tightly and rubber seal must be in good condition
4. Container should be clean and dry without any sign of water condensation and dirty spots.
5. Container with moisture level over 20% is not recommended to use and the floor should not
exceed a level of 25% of moisture level
6. Seal the air vents
7. Use optimum quantity of desiccant (depend on the container size) and hang the desiccant with
evenly spaced
8. Do not load the cargo during rainy weather
Lower
temperature
Lower humidity
Lower Moisture
Content
Mould requires 1, 2 & 3, to prevent mould growth
lower their levels.
Lower Temperature, humidity and moisture content

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Table 1 – Mould conditions
Condition Range Preventative action
Mould requires specific
temperatures
20-30 °C Lower temperature below this range
Optimal relative humidity (RH)
for mould growth
70-93%
Lower to below 70% to inhibit growth but
not stop it.
Recommendation to lower below 60%
Fabric and leather moisture
content (MC)
Above 12% Keep moisture content between 8-12%
Wood moisture content (MC) 20-28% Keep moisture content between 8-12%

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7. Process control in the factory/warehouse
It is important that basic controls within the factory (production and warehousing) are in place to limit
the issue of mould on the product and/or its packaging.
Key factory control points
To do this a standard operating procedure should be put in place to make sure all employees follow the
requirements, if necessary make this part of any quality system already in place i.e. ISO9001.
Material receiving Material storage Production
Packaging
Product storageLoadingShipping

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Key factors to monitor and control:
1. Control and monitor the humidity in warehouse areas.
2. Keep semi-finished/finished product away from walls and windows, keep at least 50cm from the
wall or window.
3. Fix damp or damaged walls.
4. Fix roofs with damage or holes, prevent rain entering production and warehousing areas.
5. Keep semi-finished/finished product off the ground.
6. Keep packaging off the ground and stored in dry and cool areas (low humidity).
7. Where possible use plastic pallets, if these cannot be used monitor the moisture level of the
wooden pallets to ensure they do not impact on the finished product moisture requirements (8-
12% unless otherwise specified by Lidl).
8. Make sure inner and outer cartons (cardboard) is not allowed to become damp and if does
become damp or wet, then DO NOT DRY in the sun/outside, you must replace the carton(s).
9. Ensure loading are covered, do not load in in open areas.
10. Do not load the cargo during rainy weather.
7.1 Cleaning to prevent Mould growth
Gloves (latex, rubber) Mask (painter’s or respirator) Buckets Trash bags Scrub brush Wet-Dry shop
vacuum Broom, mop Sponges, rags Non-ammonia detergent, soap or commercial cleaner (phenolic or
pine-oil based) Disinfectant Chlorine bleach – a 10% solution = 11/4 Cup bleach to a gallon water
Before you begin Make sure the working area is well ventilated. Wear gloves, mask, and protect eyes. If
Mould is present, clean a small test patch. If you feel your health is adversely affected, consider hiring a
professional to carry out the work. Disinfectants are intended to be applied to already cleaned materials.
Hard surfaces: Wash items such as metal, glass, solid wood, plastic and other non-porous materials with
a non-ammonia detergent and hot water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.
Use a Wet-Dry shop vacuum to remove water and clean items such as studs or exposed wood framing.
Disinfect all cleaned surfaces with a 10% bleach solution. Let the solution stay on the surface for at least
10 minutes before rinsing with clean water or allowing it to dry.

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Porous materials: This includes upholstered furniture, rugs, bedding, clothing, curtains, books and
papers, and furniture made of pressed particle materials. Deciding whether or not to keep contaminated
item?
Remember, when in doubt, throw it out. If an item has been wet for less than 48 hours, it may be able
to be cleaned, disinfected with a phenolic or pine-oil cleaner. It should then be completely dried and
monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odours– if any Mould develops, discard the item.
Allow the wet or contaminated area to dry completely (usually two to three days) before beginning to
rebuild, replace or return items. See MOULD PREVENTION section for tips on rebuilding, replacing.
SOME GENERAL CAUTIONS
• Exercise caution in cleaning and disinfecting Moulds because they release Mould spores when
disturbed.
• Never mix bleach with ammonia; fumes from the combination are toxic.
• When discarding items that are Mould contaminated, use extreme caution, or hire a
professional.

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8. Ocean Container Defect Reference Guide
Every precaution should be taken to ensure proper inspections. Use your experience and judgment
when inspecting
Minor to moderate blemishes and damage are acceptable and considered normal. Look for structural
defects that jeopardize the safety and security of people loading and unloading containers and those
that compromise the integrity of the products being transported.
 Significantly bent/bowed posts, support beams or broken welds
 Door hardware in poor condition or working order that prevents seal and locking integrity
 Holes that allow light or external weather conditions into container
 Infestation, mould or residual cargo debris / dirt
 Condensation / standing water or wet floors
 Persistent odour or physical reaction such as watering eyes or coughing
 Defaced container markings or interior graffiti / inappropriate messaging
Infestation
Cargo container doors should seal completely and securely when shut. The container should be light-
tight, which will also prevent entry of any external elements into the container while in transit. To
ensure a satisfactory light-tight seal, you can conduct a light test by observing the seal performance
from inside a closed container. In addition, all door locking hardware (hasps, hinges, handles, bars, bolts,
etc.) must be tested and be in good working order.

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APPENDIX 1 – Seven (7) point inspection
Undercarriage
Ceiling/Roof
Left side
Right side
Front Wall
Doors
Interior Floor

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APPENDIX 2

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APPENDIX 2 (continued)

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APPENDIX 3 – Examples of container defects

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APPENDIX 4
Useful contacts for Desiccants:
Super Dry China Ltd
Unit 6 and 7, 17/F., Billion Trade Centre, 31 Hung To Road Kwun Tong, Kowloon Hong Kong
Tel: +852 28389778
Fax: +852 28389790
Website: www.superdry.com.sg
Super Dry Desiccant (Shenzhen) Co Ltd
Building 3, Express Luck Industrial Park, No.88, Baotongnan Road, Xiken, Heng Gang Town, Long
Gang district, Shenzhen, China.
Tel: +86 755-8973 7600
Fax: +86 755-8973 7601
Website: www.superdry.com.sg
Micropak Ltd
Suite 2504, Tower 6, The Gateway, Harbour City, 9 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2956 2991
Fax: +852 2956 0790
Website: www.micropakltd.com
Distributors in China:
Dongguan Office for Cherng Chinq – Chen Chun Shoes Material Co., Ltd.
No.25 Hongqiao Road, Houjie Town, Dongguan City, China
Contact: 徐盛先生 / 王燕媚小姐
Tel: (86) 769-8558 0716
Fax: (86) 769-8593 2766
Email: chengxianggoodluck@163.com
Dongguan Office for Cherng Chinq – Peng Cheng Shoes Material Co., Ltd.
No. 3, Jingtou Lane 6 Qiaotou Village, Houjie Town, Dongguan City, China
Contact: 鄧福培先生 (Mr. Deng)
Tel: (86) 769-8593 1036
Fax: (86) 769-8591 9955
Email: 13509837888@163.com
Fujian Office for Cherng Chinq – Fujian Jinjiang Well June Shoes Material Co., Ltd.
Room 301, No. 408 Tsinghua West Qingyang Streets, Jinjiang, Fujian, China
Contact:
Mr. Tony Huang
Mr. Eric Chen
Tel: (86) 153-9207 5189
Fax: (86) 595-8567 3489
Email: huijune888@163.comwelljune999@163.com

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Wenzhou Xing Geng Shoes Material Co., Ltd.
No.208, Zhejiang South Shoes Raw Material Area B, Wenzhou, China
Contact:
Ms. Hung
Mr. Yu
Tel: (86) 577-8851 9221
Fax: (86) 577-8863 9755
Email: xinggengwz@aliyun.com
Gain Effort Trading (Shenzhen) Ltd.
Rm. 511, 5/F, Tower 3 B, Excellence Century Center, Junction of Fuhua Road with Jintian Road,
Futian District, Shenzhen, China
Contact: Ms. Rena Xiao
Tel: (86) 755-2382 3560
Fax: (86) 755-2382 3561
Email: rena@gaineffort.com
Everdry (Longsail Dessicant)
Jiasong Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China
Contact: Mr. Chui
Tel: (86) 21-6531 7776
Email: everdry_gz@126.com
Website: www.everdryers.com.cn
Topdryer
Lindia Chemical (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd.
Xingye Rd, No.1307 B Building, Nancun Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511442, China
Contact: Candy Lee
Tel: (86) 20-8478 3001
Fax: (86) 20-8456 4800
Email: candy@containerdesiccants.com
Website: www.topdryer.com
Distributors in South East Asia
Contact: Lawrence Yip, Singapore
Email: lawrence@containerdesiccants.com
Contact: Ng Tze Long, Malaysia
Email: tzelong_ng@containerdesiccants.com

Lidl mold prevention guidance version 1 19_aug2016

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