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ISPM 15 Solid Wood Packaging Update
(September 12, 2005)

Argentina

Argentina is planning to implement ISPM 15 in June 2005.

Australia

January 1, 2006 will add wood packaging used in break bulk and air cargo to their ISPM -15 enforcement.

The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) announced its amended import requirements for solid wood packaging; those requirements took effect September 1, 2004 .

ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging is acceptable for shipment to Australia under the following conditions:

. Heat treated at 56°C for at least 30 min OR fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with the ISPM 15 stamp
. Bark-free
. Include a packing declaration (Note: declaration for ISPM 15-compliant solid wood packaging must be submitted per consignment; an annual declaration is not acceptable). The NWPCA website has a sample declaration; members will find it in the section: Resource Center , Legislation/Regulations, Australia .

The following are no longer needed for wood packaging to be compliant under ISPM 15 in Australia:
. Treatment certificate (provided that the packing declaration indicates ISPM-15 compliance)
. Satisfy the 21-day requirement (no more time limit between treatment and packing)

If wood packaging is not marked as ISPM 15-compliant:
. The 21-day rule for non-permanent treatment methods (e.g. heat sterilization, fumigation) does apply, and
. A treatment certificate AND packing declaration are required.

Brazil
No date -- awaiting publication of date in Official Journal.

Canada
September 16, 2005. (Note: Phase-in implementation since January 1, 2004; exemption granted to U.S.)

Chile
Chile 's Agriculture and Livestock Service has introduced import requirements for WPM based on ISPM 15. Their proposed date of implementation is June 1, 2005 .

China
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIS) announced they will be implementing their new WPM regulations January 1, 2006 . China will also start accepting the ISPM 15 mark in lieu of the HT Certificate effective immediately.

Colombia
September 16, 2005

Costa Rica
Costa Rica 's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has notified WTO of its intent to adopt ISPM 15 in their regulations for imported WPM. Implementation date was January 1, 2005 .

Ecuador

September 20, 2005

Egypt

October 1, 2005

European Union (EU)
The European Commission (EC) has deferred for a year their debarking and bark-free specifications, however, they will begin enforcement of ISPM15 requirements as of March 1, 2005 .

Guatemala
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food announced they will enforce ISPM 15 September 16, 2005

India
India 's implementation date for ISPM-15 was November 1, 2004 . India 's Ministry of Agriculture made it clear that a phytosanitary certificate is not required as long as the wood packaging is ISPM-15 treated and marked.

Korea
The Korean National Plant Quarantine Service has published its rule adopting ISPM 15. They intend for their regulation to go into effect June 1, 2005 . At this time, they will only accept heat treatment for coniferous wood; hardwood can be fumigated or heat treated.

Mexico
Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturale's (SEMARNAT) released its final rule on import and export WPM. The rule states that imported WPM must be ISPM 15-compliant starting July 1, 2005 however, it was presented during the recent North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) meeting that it will be enforced on September 16, 2005.

New Zealand

New Zealand has fully implemented and is enforcing ISPM 15.

Nigeria
Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service is now enforcing their import requirements for imported WPM. Nigeria will accept the ISPM 15 mark in lieu of the phytosanitary certificate as stated in their regulation which took effect September 30, 2004.

North America
The United States, Canada and Mexico will strictly enforce ISPM 15 starting September 16, 2005 . Until then, it is recommended to use ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging going to North America . There is an exemption agreement between the US and Canada .

Panama

Panama began enforcement of ISPM 15 in February 2005.

Peru

Peru began enforcement of ISPM 15 in March 2005.

Philippines
The Philippines' Department of Agriculture has changed their implementation date for ISPM 15. It was scheduled to be partially enforced (must be treated but marking is not required) as of January 1, 2005 . Full implementation starts on June 1, 2005 .

South Africa
The RSA Department of Agriculture began implementing ISPM 15 on January 1, 2005 .

South Korea

MB fumigation for softwood packaging now allowed, but must use the 24-hour treatment schedule.

Switzerland
According to the Swiss Shippers' Council , Switzerland is delaying enforcement of ISPM 15 until March 1, 2005 to coincide with implementation of EU nations.

Taiwan
Taiwan 's new regulation only applies to lumber and other wood products and does not include wood packaging.

Turkey
Turkey has changed its implementation date from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2006 . Similar to the EU, Turkey 's import requirements for regulated WPM requires debarking.

United States
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released its final rule "Importation of wood packaging material." Starting September 16, 2005 , all imported WPM except those coming from Canada must be treated and marked according to ISPM 15. Non-compliant WPM will be re-exported, treatment at the port of entry will not be an option. In some cases compliant WPM with signs of pests may be fumigated at the port.

APHIS will use risk management techniques and statistical sampling for inspection targets. Shipment from countries with high levels of interception will face more inspection whereas, highly compliant importers will be subject to fewer inspection. (Note: The United States regulations control imports into America . They do not have authority over export wood packaging. For exports, be sure to be guided by the rules of the
destination country.)

Venezuela

June 1, 2005




	American Pallet Co. is certified and is audited on a regular basis, to heat treat and certify pallets for export to anywhere in the world. Below is a current synopsis of most of the countries taking product from the US and their requirements. If the country you are shipping to is not listed, please call and I will immediately fax over to you the current specifications for that country. Reginald Ash (847) 662-5525
ISPM 15 Solid Wood Packaging Update (September 12, 2005) Argentina Argentina is planning to implement ISPM 15 in June 2005. Australia January 1, 2006 will add wood packaging used in break bulk and air cargo to their ISPM -15 enforcement. The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) announced its amended import requirements for solid wood packaging; those requirements took effect September 1, 2004 . ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging is acceptable for shipment to Australia under the following conditions: . Heat treated at 56°C for at least 30 min OR fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with the ISPM 15 stamp . Bark-free . Include a packing declaration (Note: declaration for ISPM 15-compliant solid wood packaging must be submitted per consignment; an annual declaration is not acceptable). The NWPCA website has a sample declaration; members will find it in the section: Resource Center , Legislation/Regulations, Australia . The following are no longer needed for wood packaging to be compliant under ISPM 15 in Australia: . Treatment certificate (provided that the packing declaration indicates ISPM-15 compliance) . Satisfy the 21-day requirement (no more time limit between treatment and packing) If wood packaging is not marked as ISPM 15-compliant: . The 21-day rule for non-permanent treatment methods (e.g. heat sterilization, fumigation) does apply, and . A treatment certificate AND packing declaration are required. Brazil No date -- awaiting publication of date in Official Journal. Canada September 16, 2005. (Note: Phase-in implementation since January 1, 2004; exemption granted to U.S.) Chile Chile 's Agriculture and Livestock Service has introduced import requirements for WPM based on ISPM 15. Their proposed date of implementation is June 1, 2005 . China The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIS) announced they will be implementing their new WPM regulations January 1, 2006 . China will also start accepting the ISPM 15 mark in lieu of the HT Certificate effective immediately. Colombia September 16, 2005 Costa Rica Costa Rica 's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has notified WTO of its intent to adopt ISPM 15 in their regulations for imported WPM. Implementation date was January 1, 2005 . Ecuador September 20, 2005 Egypt October 1, 2005 European Union (EU) The European Commission (EC) has deferred for a year their debarking and bark-free specifications, however, they will begin enforcement of ISPM15 requirements as of March 1, 2005 . Guatemala The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food announced they will enforce ISPM 15 September 16, 2005 India India 's implementation date for ISPM-15 was November 1, 2004 . India 's Ministry of Agriculture made it clear that a phytosanitary certificate is not required as long as the wood packaging is ISPM-15 treated and marked. Korea The Korean National Plant Quarantine Service has published its rule adopting ISPM 15. They intend for their regulation to go into effect June 1, 2005 . At this time, they will only accept heat treatment for coniferous wood; hardwood can be fumigated or heat treated. Mexico Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturale's (SEMARNAT) released its final rule on import and export WPM. The rule states that imported WPM must be ISPM 15-compliant starting July 1, 2005 however, it was presented during the recent North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) meeting that it will be enforced on September 16, 2005. New Zealand New Zealand has fully implemented and is enforcing ISPM 15. Nigeria Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service is now enforcing their import requirements for imported WPM. Nigeria will accept the ISPM 15 mark in lieu of the phytosanitary certificate as stated in their regulation which took effect September 30, 2004. North America The United States, Canada and Mexico will strictly enforce ISPM 15 starting September 16, 2005 . Until then, it is recommended to use ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging going to North America . There is an exemption agreement between the US and Canada . Panama Panama began enforcement of ISPM 15 in February 2005. Peru Peru began enforcement of ISPM 15 in March 2005. Philippines The Philippines' Department of Agriculture has changed their implementation date for ISPM 15. It was scheduled to be partially enforced (must be treated but marking is not required) as of January 1, 2005 . Full implementation starts on June 1, 2005 . South Africa The RSA Department of Agriculture began implementing ISPM 15 on January 1, 2005 . South Korea MB fumigation for softwood packaging now allowed, but must use the 24-hour treatment schedule. Switzerland According to the Swiss Shippers' Council , Switzerland is delaying enforcement of ISPM 15 until March 1, 2005 to coincide with implementation of EU nations. Taiwan Taiwan 's new regulation only applies to lumber and other wood products and does not include wood packaging. Turkey Turkey has changed its implementation date from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2006 . Similar to the EU, Turkey 's import requirements for regulated WPM requires debarking. United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released its final rule "Importation of wood packaging material." Starting September 16, 2005 , all imported WPM except those coming from Canada must be treated and marked according to ISPM 15. Non-compliant WPM will be re-exported, treatment at the port of entry will not be an option. In some cases compliant WPM with signs of pests may be fumigated at the port. APHIS will use risk management techniques and statistical sampling for inspection targets. Shipment from countries with high levels of interception will face more inspection whereas, highly compliant importers will be subject to fewer inspection. (Note: The United States regulations control imports into America . They do not have authority over export wood packaging. For exports, be sure to be guided by the rules of the destination country.) Venezuela June 1, 2005