Last Update: 8th January 2008

During the phase in period, until 1 May 2006, there will be no changes to the quarantine clearance arrangements for containerised sea-freight packaging timber. The FCL/FCX and LCL Broker Accreditation Schemes will continue as normal.

During this phase, however, AQIS will monitor compliance with the new treatment requirements for wood packaging associated with imported break-bulk and air cargo. Break bulk and air cargo consignments will be subject to surveillance by AQIS and stickers alerting importers to the new treatment requirements will be placed on cargo that does not bear ISPM15 treatment stamps. (Updated 22 February 2006).

(AQIS) formally implemented ISPM15 alongside their existing regulations with effect from 1 September 2004. This action gives exporters a choice of treatment options to choose and is mainly for the benefit of countries that do not have ISPM15 compliant wood marking programmes in place yet. Details of the new rules are set out in AQIS Notice to Industry No 19 . (Last updated:17 August 2004). To view examples of AQIS supplier/packer declarations, (full container loads) (less than full container loads). (Last update 23 August 2004). The declarations can be completed by the Exporter as AQIS have confirmed that their reference to 'Suppliers' also meant 'Exporters'. Suppliers (i.e. the exporters) do not need to put UKWPMMP/ISPM 15 unique registration numbers on the packing declarations. the only number that is required is a numerical to link between the declaration and the container/shipment. The intention is for the supplier to fill out the declaration as they are the ones that AQIS will be targeting for increased surveillance/profiling if surveillance shows a problem.

We have been advised that AQIS has no quarantine concerns with packing made solely of reconstituted wood products. Reconstituted wood products are those that no longer contain solid wood as a result of the manufacturing process and include particleboard, chipboard, masonite, oriented strand board, medium and high density fibreboard. AQIS have published the following Public Quarantine Alerts which wood packaging manufacturers and exporters using packaging materials made from processed wood products should familiarise themselves with -

PQA0389 - Importation of peeler cores as packaging or dunnage

PQA0390 - Amended import conditions for panel products

PQA0404 - Changed import requirements for packing made solely from reconstituted wood products (includes particleboard, chipboard, masonite, oriented strand board (OSB), medium and high density fibreboard).

All of these PQA's can be viewed on AQIS's site.

Packing material made of newly manufactured plywood

Note: AQIS commenced a review of import requirements for plywood in late 2004. Until this review is completed, plywood will continue to be a quarantine concern.

Packing material made of plywood is acceptable for facilitated quarantine clearance, that is without inspection or further treatment, provided the plywood is newly manufactured (ie not pre-used), is manufactured in:
Australia, Canada, Europe, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom or USA within three months of shipment; or
countries other than those above, within 21 days of shipment,
and in every case, accompanied by an acceptable certificate that includes the country of manufacture, the date of manufacture and a statement that the plywood has not been pre-used (see Appendix VII for an example of an acceptable newly manufactured plywood certificate).
Alternatively, packing material made of either new or pre-used plywood may qualify for facilitated clearance if treated offshore by an AQIS approved method (refer Appendices I, II and III). Acceptable treatment certificates must accompany such consignments.
Upon arrival, packing material made of plywood that does not meet the newly manufactured requirements above or has not been appropriately treated offshore will be subject to inspection, treatment (refer Appendices II and III), re-export or destruction with all options at the importer’s expense.
Import conditions for bulk imports of plywood are provided in the AQIS Import Conditions database ICON.

Full details of the above guidance can be viewed in AQIS's Cargo Containers - Quarantine aspects and procedures manual which is updated on a regular basis.

Canada announces new timber import requirements

EU (Click here to see the EU member States)
From 1 March 2005 new landing requirements apply for wood, wood products and wooden packaging material arriving in the European Community from all countries, except Switzerland. The landing requirement does not apply to wood, wood products and wooden packaging material which is simply moving from one EU member State to another. Additionally there is no phytosanitary certificate requirement for wooden packaging material arriving in the EC , which is ISPM15 compliant as the certification is provided via the ISPM15 wood mark.

The new rules, which are set out in Council Directive 2004/102/EC, will be incorporated into our national legislation as quickly as possible, once the final implementing details are agreed in Brussels.

For most wood products, the existing requirements will continue to apply. New treatment options, such as heat treatment for all conifer wood, regardless of country of origin, have been agreed AND THESE WILL BE ACCEPTED in Great Britain from 1 March.

More detailed information regarding the new treatment options as provided in the ‘Wood Package’ summary note (issued December 2003) can be viewed by clicking here

Wood packaging material (WPM) will also be affected following EU implementation of ISPM 15 on 1 March. From that date, all WPM, such as boxes, crates, pallets, which are made using any unmanufactured wood products, MUST meet the new requirements and be either heat treated or fumigated with Methyl bromide under an officially approved programme and carry the internationally agreed mark. WPM comprised entirely of manufactured wood products such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or similar is EXEMPT, and need not be treated or marked.

Note: the requirement in Directive 2004/102/EC that all WPM must be made from debarked wood has been suspended for one year ie until 1st March 2006 and WILL NOT therefore be enforced. Directive 2005/15/EC dated 28th February 2004 provides details of this amendment.
Emergency measures: In the meantime the emergency measures covering WPM from Canada, China, Japan and the USA will remain in place, pending review. This means coniferous WPM from these countries must be heat treated, chemically pressure impregnated or Methyl bromide fumigated and marked (and from China, only, be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate). In addition, non-coniferous WPM from China must be EITHER bark-free and free of insect bore holes > 3 mm across OR kiln-dried.

For all WPM manufactured after 28 February 2005, the mark must also include the IPPC1 logo –



1 IPPC – International Plant Protection Convention, FAO Rome

For WPM manufactured before that date, and until 31 December 2007, the mark need only contain the country code, the producer code and the treatment code. After 1 January 2008, all WPM will need to have the full ISPM 15 mark, including the IPPC logo

Dunnage 
From 1 March 2005, and until 31 December 2007, all dunnage must either be bark-free, free of pests and signs of live pests OR be heat treated or fumigated with Methyl bromide and carry the ISPM 15 mark incorporating the country code, the producer code and the treatment code. For treated and marked dunnage there is no requirement for the wood to be debarked until 1 March 2006. After 1 January 2008, all dunnage will need to have the full ISPM 15 mark, including the IPPC logo

This information is correct at the time of publication and will be updated as required. (Updated 3rd March 2005).

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

India has published details of its implementation of ISPM15 and landing requirements for wood packaging material w.e.f. 1st November 2004 (see attached Web page)

Following consultation, New Zealand has amended its import requirements for wood packaging material from 1 May 2006. These are set out in their revised Import Health Standard. All WPM produced under the UK's Wood Packaging Material is bark-free and that treated by fumigation is treated to the 24 hour treatment specification recently adopted by the Commission for Phytosanitary Measures and thus meets New Zealand's requirements. (last updated 17 May 2006)

The USA's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on 15th September 2005 that it had conducted a special operation during the month of July 2005 to determine the baseline level of wood packaging material (WPM) compliance with ISPM15. Based on examination results, CBP will perform phased-in compliance enforcement of the USDA WPM regulation. Details of the phased-in compliance can be viewed in the CBP's Operating Procedures for Trade Community Regarding Implementation of the Wood Packaging Materials (WPM) Regulation

More information will be made available from the USDA during the months of September and October or via the CBPs website

APHIS in cooperation with CBP will begin enforcing phase two of the wood packaging material (WPM ) regulation beginning Feb. 1. During the phase, APHIS and CBP will require that all commodity imports entering or transiting the United States with WPM consisting of pallets and crates be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide. The shipments must also be marked with an approved international logo, certifying that the WPM has been appropriately treated. WPM that does not meet these requirements will not be allowed to enter into the United States and will be re-exported.

Shipments containing WPM that violate the rule may be allowed entry only if the CBP port director determines that it is possible to separate the approved material from the noncompliant portion of the shipment. Arrangements to have the noncompliant WPM exported from the United States would be required before the approved cargo can be released to the consignee. All costs associated with this process are the responsibility of the importer.

This phase of enforcement will continue through July 4. Full enforcement of the WPM regulation will begin July 5. At that time, all WPM must meet the import requirements and be free of timber pests before entering or transiting through the United States.