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