CorrugatedPallets.com | International Wood Packaging Standards to Become Effective July 1, 2003

International Wood Packaging Standards to Become Effective July 1, 2003

This document originally appeared at: http://www.afma4u.org/news/index.htm?id=240
Date Modified: 2003-03-18
By: Brent Burton

In March 2002, a meeting of the Interim Commission for Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) took place at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The Commission was established to direct the mission of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), whose primary objective is developing science-based phytosanitary standards. These standards are aimed at reducing the risk of introduction and/or spread of quarantine pests associated with wood packaging material (including dunnage), made of coniferious and non-coniferous raw wood (both soft and hardwoods), in use in international trade. Currently, there are one hundred twenty countries, including the United States, which are contracting parties to the IPPC.

During this meeting, the Commission voted on and approved guidelines for regulating non manufactured solid wood packaging materials (SWPM) in international trade. The guidelines were briefly suspended due to a potential trademark infringement pertaining to the use of the universal no bug mark symbol. The guidelines are to be taken out of IPPC suspension in the month of April 2003. Hopefully, by then a new mark will have been reinstated. The purpose for these new regulatory measures are to ensure that import requirements have a scientific basis and are not used as unjustified trade barriers. Wood packing material is frequently made of raw wood that may not have undergone sufficient processing or treatment to remove or kill pests and therefore becomes a pathway for the introduction and spread of pests. Having a globally accepted measure in place should help to facilitate trade and practically eliminate the risk for most quarantine pests and significantly reduce the risk from a number of other pests that may be associated with that material.

These guidelines are for coniferous and non-coniferous raw wood packaging material that may serve as a pathway for plant pests posing a threat, mainly to living trees. They cover wood packing material such as pallets, dunnage, crating, packing blocks and skids. Exempt from these measures are packaging products that have been created using glue, heat and pressure such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer.

The two treatment methods approved as part of the standard are: heat treatment (HT) and methyl bromide fumigation (MB). Kiln drying, chemical pressure impregnation, or other treatments can qualify as HT treatment to the extent that these processes meet HT specifications, i.e., a core temperature of 56° C for a minimum of 30 minutes.

The American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) in coordination with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has developed an official program for the HT option. The program will require users of SWPM to enroll with a grading agency affiliated with the ALSC and to acquire HT marked lumber from approved lumber mills. The program will include on-site inspections of SWPM manufacturing facilities to verify compliance. On-site inspections will be done by inspection agencies accredited by ALSC. Official marks have been designated for both HT and MB treatment methods to ensure compliance with the international standards. The National Wood Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) in coordination with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are developing an official program for the fumigation option.

If your company is exporting furniture products to foreign markets, compliance with these international standards is mandatory. These measures will also apply to imported furniture products reshipped to other countries. These international standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPM’s) are adopted by contracting parties to the IPPC, and by FAO members that are contracting parties, through the ICPM. ISPM’s are the standards, guidelines and recommendations recognized as the basis for phytosanitary measures applied by members of the World Trade Organization. It is important to note that in order for ISPM Publication No. 15 Guidelines for regulating non-manufactured solid wood packing materials to become effective each signatory country will have to implement their regulations in line with the standard. It is expected that the U.S. will implement its own regulation in line with the standard by late summer 2003. Other select major trading partners are expected to implement regulations in line with the standard soon after. Please monitor the below web sites for changing requirements.

For more information, contact:
Laney Campbell, Regional Program
Manager — Trade Specialist Eastern Region
USDA — Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(919) 716-5585 or Laney.E.Campbell@aphis.usda.gov

Web sites:
American Lumber Standards Committee: www.alsc.gov
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: www.aphis.usda.gov