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Wood Packing Regulations

*** WPM - Wood Packing Material

*** ISPM 15 - International Standards for Physanitary Measures Publication 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade 

As of April 15, 2008, the following countries require ISPM 15 treatment of WPMs:

COUNTRY

ISPM 15 STATUS

IMPORT REQUIREMENTS

Argentina

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Australia

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Ø      ISPM 15 treated WPM does not require a treatment certificate providing that a packaging declaration indicates ISPM 15 compliance and freedom of bark. If WPM is not marked as ISPM 15-compliant, both a treatment certificate and packing declaration are required. A certificate must contain the following information: name of fumigant, date and place of fumigation, dosage, temperature, container number, name and address of exporter, name and address of consignee, type and description of cargo, number of pieces, shipping mark or brand, treatment provider signature and date.

Ø      There is no longer a time limit of 21 days between treatment and shipping if the WPM was treated and marked per ISPM 15. If no ISPM 15 mark is found the rule does apply.

Ø      For air cargo and break bark only, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) will continue to assume that ISMP 15 and bark free requirements have been met unless it has evidence to the contrary.

Ø      Where AQUIS finds non-compliance with ISPM 15 and no alternative evidence of appropriate treatment can be provided, WPM will be subject to treatment, re-export or destruction at the importer’s expense.

Bolivia

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Ø      In addition, Bolivia requires WPM to be debarked.

Brazil

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Canada

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Ø      Continental U.S. is exempt from the requirements (must write on export paperwork: “Wood Packing Material of Continental U.S. origin.”

Ø      Treatment certificate is not required, but can be used as an alternative to the ISPM 15 marking system.

Ø      Untreated WPM may be ordered removed from Canada.

Chile

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Ø      In addition, WPM must be debarked.

China

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Ø      All WPM must bear the treatment mark that certifies the treatment.

Ø      Effective January 1, 2006, China has amended its regulations to require both coniferous, non-coniferous and WMP heat treated and marked under ISPM 15.

Ø      The Chinese authorities will put all their attention on the correct application of ISPM15 and especially the presence of the marks.

Ø      The Chinese authorities will destroy, at the expense of the shippers’, all wood packaging material that is not in conformity with the regulation.

To facilitate entry of consignments containing wooden packaging into China, it is recommended that a statement confirming that the WPM used in the consignment is ISPM 15 compliant, is included on documentation accompanying consignments. Documentation may include packing declarations, packing lists or invoices. Treatement certificates are NOT required.

Colombia

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15.

Costa Rica

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Ø      In addition, Costa Rica requires a mark of (TT) for heat treatment and (BM) for methyl bromide fumigation for WPM.

Dominican Republic

 Fully implemented

 All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Ecuador

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Egypt

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

European Union

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Ø      All newly assembled, repaired or recycled unprocessed raw wood packaging materials must be either heat treated or officially fumigated and stamped ISPM 15.

Ø      ISPM 15 marking requirements are not applicable for WPM manufactured, repaired, or recycled before February 28, 2005

Ø      From January 1, 2009, all wood packaging material must be debarked and marked DB.

Ø      Dunnage must meet the same criteria as wood packaging material, but it is exempted until the end of 2007 if it is made of wood free from bark, pests and signs of live pests.

Guatemala

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

 Honduras

 Fully Implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

India

Fully implemented

All WMP must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Ø      In addition to the official ISPM 15 stamp, India will also accept a compliance certificate endorsing ISPM 15 treatment

o      Note: APHIS will not issue phytosanitary certificates for the movement of WPM used in the transportation of commodities.

Indonesia

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

 Japan

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Jordan

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Kenya

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

South Korea

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Ø      Heat treatment option for both coniferous and non-coniferous packaging material with the official ISPM 15 mark is allowed. An alternative 

Lebanon

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Malaysia

 n/a

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Mexico

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

New Zealand

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Ø      Alternatives to ISPM 15 treatment acceptable in New Zealand are fumigation and chemical preservation to full sapwood penetration. Such treatments must be accompanied by an NPPO-endorsed original treatment certificate.

Ø      WPM that does not comply with the treatment standards will be treated, reshipped, or destroyed at the exporter’s expense.

Nigeria

n/a

Ø     Nigeria has indicated through official correspondence of the acceptance of official treatment and marking of wood packaging in line with ISPM 15.

Ø     Nigeria does not require a phytosanitary certificate if the mark on WPM body indicates that it has been treated as stated in ISPM 15.

Oman

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

 Panama

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

 Paraguay

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Peru

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Philippines

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

 Seychelles

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

South Africa

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Syria

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

 Taiwan

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Trinidad and Tobago

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Turkey

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Ø      In addition, WPM must be made from the debarked wood.

Vietnam

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

Venezuela

Fully implemented

All WPM must be treated and certified according to ISPM 15

For more information, please see: https://www.ippc.int/IPP/En/default.jsp.

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