ISPM 15 Solid Wood Packaging Update
(23 October 2006)
PWS is an ISPM-15 certified facility. ISPM-15 is the international standard for heat treated and fumigated wood products. All products manufactured at PWS are certified for export worldwide. For reference the ISPM-15 standard and country regulations follow. Contact a PWS' representative today for further information or for your next crate/pallet.
The ISPM-15 standard allows for two treatment options of wood products:
- Heat Treatment (HT): Wood packaging material should be heated in a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56oC for a minimum of 30 minutes. The American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) administers the US certification program for heat treatment.
- Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation: The wood packaging material should be fumigated with methyl bromide. The National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) has been tasked by the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to administer the fumigation program.
Dunnage must also be ISPM-15 compliant. The ISPM-15 standard has a specific mark for dunnage. If lumber is cut up for use as dunnage, that lumber should be marked every two feet so at least one such mark will be on all dunnage components.
ISPM 15 requirements apply to all species of coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood) packaging materials.
COUNTRY SUMMARY
| COUNTRY |
ENFORCEMENT DATE |
NOTES |
| Argentina |
01 January 2006 |
|
| Australia |
01 September 2004 |
Bark free + packing declaration for ISPM-15 compliant WPM, 21 day rule does not apply |
| Bolivia |
23 July 2005 |
Bark Free |
| Bulgaria |
24 January 2006 |
|
| Brazil |
01 June 2005 |
|
| Canada |
16 September 2005 |
Phase in implementation since 01 January 2004. Exemption granted to US |
| Chile |
01 June 2005 |
|
| China |
01 January 2006 |
MB Fumigation of softwood packaging must be at least 24 hours depending on wood temperature |
| Colombia |
16 September 2005 |
|
| Costa Rica |
19 March 2006 |
Previous date 01 January 2005 |
| Dominican Republic |
01 July 2006 |
|
| Ecuador |
20 September 2005 |
Previous date 26 April 2004 |
| Egypt |
01 October 2005 |
|
| European Union |
01 March 2005 |
*See Detail below |
| Guatemala |
16 September 2005 |
|
| Honduras |
25 February 2006 |
|
| India |
01 November 2005 |
Phytosanitary certificate required for non ISPM-15 compliant wood |
| Indonesia |
Date not set yet |
|
| Japan |
01 April 2007 |
|
| Jordan |
17 November 2006 |
|
| Kenya |
01 January 2006 |
|
| Lebanon |
26 March 2006 |
|
| Mexico |
16 September 2005 |
Phase in implementation since 01 January 2004 |
| Nicaragua |
Date not set yet |
|
| New Zealand |
16 April 2003 |
Bark Free |
| Nigeria |
30 September 2004 |
|
| Oman |
December 2006 |
|
| Panama |
|
Not yet enforcing |
| Paraguay |
28 June 2005 |
|
| Peru |
01 March 2005 |
|
| Philippines |
01 June 2005 |
Partial enforcement starting 01 January 2005 |
| Seychelles |
01 March 2006 |
|
| South Africa |
01 January 2005 |
Variation: 24-MB schedule for softwood packaging |
| South Korea |
01 June 2005 |
HT only for softwood packaging. Hardwood requires fumigation |
| Syria |
01 April 2006 |
|
| Switzerland |
01 March 2005 |
|
| Trinidad & Tobago |
15 September 2005 |
|
| Turkey |
01 January 2006 |
Bark Free |
| Ukraine |
01 October 2005 |
|
| US |
16 September 2005 |
Phase in implementation since 01 January 2004. Exemption granted to Canada |
| Tanzania |
|
Tanzania's Ministry of Agriculture has published the regulation, but hasn't stated an implementation date |
| Venezuela |
01 June 2005 |
|
| Vietnam |
05 June 2005 |
|
*European Union
The European Union began enforcement of ISPM-15 01 March 2005. The EU deferred for a year their debarking and bark-free specifications (see dunnage exception below), but claim they will present technical justification for the additional requirements and begin enforcement March 2006. The EU has some variations that need to be clarified.
Marking
Until 31 December 2007 the EU will accept all previously recognized marks for heat treatment (HT, "no bug" logo, and ISPM-15 mark). For fumigation; however, they will only accept the ISPM-15 mark. If you have packaging with the previous fumigation mark you must re-treat and re-mark.
Dunnage
If dunnage is treated and marked it need not be bark free. If dunnage is not marked it must be bark free and devoid of pests and signs of live pests.
If the EU implements debark and bark free requirements in March 2006, as they plan, dunnage must comply with the same treatment, marking, and debarking as all other wood packaging.
Notice to Department of Defense (DOD) Venders
The Department of Defense has announced that its shipments both "inside and outside of the United States must meet ISPM 15." This requirement will be reflected in Defense Logistic Agency solicitations issued as of August 1, 2006. DOD wood packaging materials must be heat treated, (DOD does not accept fumigation as a treatment method.
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