International Phytosanitary Requirements May Affect You.

Below you will find the latest information regarding implementation of ISPM 15 (click here to download), the IPPC’s (International Plant Protection Committee) Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade.

ISPM-15 Requirements

Compliance with ISPM-15 for wood packaging materials allows for two treatment options:

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 administers the U.S. certification program for heat treatment.

Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation: The wood packaging material should be fumigated with methyl bromide. NWPCA has been tasked by the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to administer the fumigation program.

NOTE: ISPM 15 requirements apply to all species of coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood) packaging materials. Hardwood is no longer exempt.

For the latest information on international treatment requirements, please visit the USDA's web site.

Update: APRIL, 2006
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Based on published regulations by the countries below, the following are now or soon will be enforcing ISPM 15:

 Bulgaria: January 24, 2006

Honduras: February 25, 2006

Japan: January 2007 (tentative date of implementation)

Lebanon: March 26, 2006

Seychelles: March 1, 2006

Syria: April 1, 2006

Ukraine: October 1, 2005

Vietnam: June 5, 2005

Summary information for countries that have begun implementation or announced plans to implement ISPM-15:

Argentina: June 1,2006

Australia: September 1, 2004 (Variations to ISPM-15: Bark-free + packing declaration for ISPM-15 compliant WPM, 21-day rule does not apply); January 1, 2006 will add wood packaging used in break bulk and air cargo to their ISPM-15 enforcement.

Bulgaria: January 24, 2006

Bolivia: July 23, 2005 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

Brazil: June 1, 2005

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

Chile: June 1, 2005 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

China: January 1, 2006 (Variation: MB fumigation for softwood packaging must use the 24-hour treatment schedule. ALSO: Although not a requirement, it is highly recommended to make a statement in Chinese language on the shipping invoice "WPM are ISPM 15-compliant," "WPM are exempt from ISPM 15" or "There is no WPM in this shipment.")

Colombia: September 16, 2005

Costa Rica: March 19, 2006

Ecuador: September 20, 2005 (Date change: previously April 26, 2004)

Egypt: October 1, 2005

European Union: March 1, 2005

Guatemala: September 16, 2005

Honduras: February 25, 2006

India: November 1, 2004 (Variation: Phytosanitary certificate required only for WPM not ISPM-15 compliant)

Japan: January 2007 (tentative date of implementation)

Jordan: November 17, 2005

Lebanon: March 26, 2006

Mexico: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation since January 1, 2004)

New Zealand: April 16, 2003 (Variation: Bark-free WPM)

Nigeria: September 30, 2004

Panama: Not yet enforcing ISPM 15

Paraguay: June 28, 2005

Peru: March 1, 2005

Philippines: June 1, 2005

Seychelles: March 1, 2006

South Africa: January 1, 2005 (Variation: 24-MB schedule for softwood packaging)

South Korea: June 1, 2005 (Variation: MB fumigation for softwood packaging must use the 24-hour treatment schedule.)

Switzerland: March 1, 2005

Syria: April 1, 2006

Trinidad & Tobago: September 15, 2005

Turkey: January 1, 2006 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

Ukraine: October 1, 2005

U.S.: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation; exemption granted to Canada -- must provide import declaration that shipment derived from trees harvested in U.S. or Canada -- import lumber must be ISPM-15)

Venezuela: June 1, 2005

Vietnam: June 5, 2005

Contact us for more information. Keep checking back, and we will keep you posted on the latest government regulations.

International Phytosanitary Requirements May Affect You.

In defining the export certification rules as they relate to shipments from the US to the EU and China, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requires treatment of coniferous solid wood packing material. Keep checking back, and we will keep you posted on the latest government regulations.

European Union (EU)

Background:

The Commission of the European Communities has adopted emergency measures requiring the treatment and marking of all new and used coniferous (e.g. pine, spruce, fir) non-manufactured wood packing material (NMWP) originating in the United States, Canada, China, or Japan and departing on or after October 1, 2001, to prevent the introduction of the pinewood nematode. Hardwoods are exempt from the EU emergency measure. The pinewood nematode is a microscopic eelworm which has caused extensive mortality in pines in Japan and China.

European concern over the possible introduction and establishment of the pinewood nematode has heightened over the past couple of years after an outbreak in Portugal and interceptions of the pinewood nematode in NMWP from the United States, Canada, China, and Japan. The source of the outbreak in Portugal has not been positively identified but packaging material is believed to have been the likely pathway.

The EU emergency measures allow three treatment options for coniferous NMWP: heat treatment (HT), fumigation or chemical pressure impregnation (CPI). In all cases treated wood must bear a mark indicating the organization that treated the NMWP and the location of that organization. The EU requires that the HT program be an official program with official marks.

Currently, hardwood is exempt from these requirements. However, the United States has adopted a voluntary identification stamp "NC-US" to identify it as such.

Shipments not meeting these requirements may be quarantined or rejected by the recipient nation, upon arrival. We can manufacture your pallets to meet the EU requirement for all goods shipped to the European Union.

Larson Pallet Company has selected the heat treatment option for our products and fully comply with the EU HT program and are audited on a regular basis. We provide the appropriate "no bugs" stamps to ensure customs compliance.

China

Background:

In the fall of 1999, the government of the People's Republic of China established requirements concerning the importation of coniferous solid wood packing material. This was in response to China's desire to prevent the introduction of exotic pests, especially the pinewood nematode. APHIS, the US governmental agency charged with implementing these requirements created a certificate to allow the exporter of goods to attest to the fact that coniferous material had been heat treated by being subject to a minimum a core temperature of 56°C for 30 minutes. On December 27, 1999 APHIS published an interim rule requiring the certificate.

Shipments not meeting these requirements may be quarantined or rejected by the government of China, upon arrival. We can manufacture your pallets to meet the APHIS requirement for shipment of goods to the People's Republic Of China.

Larson Pallet Company has selected the heat treatment option for our products and fully comply with the People's Republic of China HT program and are audited on a regular basis. We provide the appropriate documentation and paperwork to ensure customs compliance.

For more information on the phytosanitary requirements for China, click here.

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