| There has been increasing concern in recent | | | | Note this information is provided as a guide |
| years about the spread of pests, such as the | | | | only. Individual country implementation dates |
| Asian longhorn beetle and the Pine Wood | | | | may change without notice and it is the |
| Nematode, since wood packaging material made | | | | responsibility of the exporter to comply with |
| of unprocessed raw wood provides a pathway | | | | importing country requirements at the time of |
| for the introduction and spread of such | | | | export. |
| pests. | | | | |
| | | | United States |
| In order to protect worldwide stocks of trees | | | | |
| and forests, the International Plant | | | | As of 5 July 2006, imports must comply with |
| Protection Committee (IPPC) has taken | | | | requirements of ISPM No. 15 or be subject to |
| regulatory action to control the global | | | | removal from the importing country. |
| movement of wooden packaging in the form of | | | | Additional information is available at: |
| ISPM15. | | | | |
| | | | European Union |
| Will it Affect Me? | | | | |
| | | | Directive 2004/102/EC, which entered into |
| If you export wooden packaging that contains | | | | force on 1 March 2005, requires the following |
| sawn timber, such as new or second-hand | | | | measures to be taken for wood packaging |
| pallets, boxes, crates, cable drums etc. | | | | material and dunnage entering the EU from all |
| outside the or into the EU you will be | | | | countries: |
| affected by these new regulations. | | | | |
| | | | The wood must be either heat treated or |
| Packaging that is made solely from | | | | fumigated with methyl bromide, in line with |
| manufactured board like plywood, OSB, | | | | ISPM15 procedures. |
| chipboard etc. is exempt. | | | | |
| | | | The wood must be officially marked with the |
| The new regulations will apply to all | | | | ISPM15 stamp. |
| arrivals at destination ports, airports etc. | | | | |
| This means that all shipments will need to be | | | | From 1 January 2009, all wood packaging |
| treated approximately eight weeks before | | | | material imported into the EU must be |
| despatch, depending on transit times. | | | | debarked. Dunnage must meet the same criteria |
| | | | as wood packaging material. However, it is |
| How can I Comply? | | | | exempted until the end of 2007 if it is made |
| | | | of wood free from bark, pests and signs of |
| The approved measures that have been adopted | | | | live pests. Additional information is |
| are as follows: | | | | available at: |
| | | | |
| Heat treatment of wood packaging, which | | | | United Kingdom |
| requires heating of the timber to a minimum | | | | |
| core temperature of 56C for a minimum of 30 | | | | The Forestry Commission are the UK's |
| minutes (HT).or | | | | representative on the IPPC. |
| | | | |
| Fumigation, using Methyl Bromide (MB) to the | | | | Rowlinson Packaging were the first wooden |
| relevant specification. | | | | case maker in the UK to buy and install a |
| | | | heat chamber, specifically designed for heat |
| In order to join to scheme, manufacturers | | | | treatment. |
| need to demonstrate that they meet the | | | | |
| requirements to a third party assessor. | | | | This allows them to treat either timber or |
| Registered manufacturers are authorised to | | | | finished cases and pallets from their site at |
| use to ISPM15 mark, which includes the | | | | Wardle in Cheshire, in the most cost |
| country of origin and a unique manufacturer's | | | | effective manner. |
| registration number | | | | |
| | | | The treatment (HT and MB) lasts for life, so |
| I need more information, where can I find it? | | | | there is no need to re-treat for returnable |
| | | | packaging. |