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Last March, 120 countries agreed to implement
an international phytosanitary standard for solid wood
packaging. That standard was temporarily suspended while a
trademark conflict was resolved, but the suspension was recently
lifted and countries are beginning to adopt the standard in
their regulations.
As you know, phytosanitary measures for the
elimination of pests that include fumigation with methyl bromide
or heat treatment were approved and included in the new
standard.
Wood pallets and containers have, of course,
been regulated country-by-country for many years. This new
standard brings some uniformity to the process, but it will be a
tough transition to initially make. Probably the biggest
adjustment you have to make in meeting the new guidlines is in
the treatment of hardwoods. Prior to adoption of the agreement -
the ISPM 15 phytosanitary standard - hardwoods had been exempted
by most Plant Protection Organizations (PPOs) around the world.
No longer. All softwood and hardwood shipping platforms,
including dummage, must now be treated by one of the prescribed
measures.
When international regulations were initially
introduced, many of you may have switched from softwoods to
hardwoods to avoid the need to treat your products. However, now
that hardwoods will require treatment, you must examine the
available options and decide whether heat treatment or
fumigation is right for your business strategies and customer
needs.
The details of the NWPCA's newly created
fumigation program are detailed below. The program is in the
initial stages of implementation with NWPCA conducting training
seminars for inspectors in several locations around the country
this summer.
Export Wood Packaging Material (WPM)
Fumigation Program
The government agency responsible for
implementing the international standard, ISPM 15, is the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. They have designated the NWPCA as the
manager of the fumigation program while the American Lumber
Standards Committee manages the heat treatment program.
NWPCA accredits and monitors wood inspection
agencies in the duties and responsibilities of their function.
Upon completion of the fumigation inspector training program,
the inspection agencies are authorized to use, and designate the
use by pallet companies, of the international mark.
That mark, shown below, is applied by paint,
stencil or branding, and includes the logo for the wood
inspection agency (a), the producer code (a code assigned to
your company - b), the treatment method (methyl bromide - c) and
the country of origin (d). This mark must be applied to at least
two sides of the pallet or container. Also required on one side
is the date of application and the lot number.
The stamp can only appear on pallets treated
by a certified fumigator registered with an
inspection agency in the NWPCA fumigation
program. Any fumigator licensed by his or her state in the use
of methyl bromide is eligible for participation in the
fumigation program.
The inspection agency conducts audits of the
fumigator's records and compares them with those records that
you keep within your operation. The NWPCA in turn audits the
records of the inspection agencies. This audit process is
intended to assure the integrity of the program.
If a foreign inspection finds pests in solid
wood packaging, an investigation will be triggered. That inquiry
will likely start with the shipper and then follow the supply
chain of inspection agency, fumigator and pallet provider.
The NWPCA fumigation program ha an
enforcement committee comprised of representatives fro APHIS,
pallet companies (both NWPCA members are non-members),
fumigators, inspection agencies, academics and NWPCA staff. This
committee will examine how pests got through the system. If
false reporting is discovered, the company committing the
deception may be removed from the program and disallowed from
using the international mark. If the pest problem is determined
to be from a pallet provider not in the program who is falsely
using the international mark, the enforcement will revert to the
government PPO for sanctions that can include fines and/or
criminal charges.
What Does This Mean?
Countries have begun to adopt the ISPM 15
regulations and enforce the standard. The U.S., Canada and
Mexico are expected to implement the requirements in January
2004. The European Union anticipates a starting date of July
2004 with other major trading partners expected to follow
shortly there after. Shippers have already begun asking for
pallets and containers that meet the requirements for
international export even for shipments going to countries that
have not yet adopted the regulations. Regardless of the future
dates of enforcement, the reality of the standard is clear right
now. Whether it be fumigation with methyl bromide or heat
treatment, wood packaging materials will need to be treated in
order to ship products, internationally. If you do not
meet the standard, you may not only lose the shipment that was
being carried on your products, you may also lose the customer
whose shipment you were handling.
NWPCA's fumigation program is one option .
Explore which treatment is best for you.
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