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Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation

 
Timcon - Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation - ISPM15

ISPM15 - Information


7th October 2013

The ISPM15 standard has been updated to include 'heat treatment using dielectric heating (treatment code for the mark: DH)'


This is now available to download here


23rd April 2013

Dielectric Heating (incl Microwaves) - Official adoption by FAO - CPM


The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) has recently adopted dielectric heat treatment as a treatment in Annex 1 of ISPM 15. The ‘final’ revised ISPM 15 will be posted on the IPP website in due course (expected to be within 2 weeks) and the official notification will be in the CPM report, which will be published as soon as possible (expected to be May/June).

See links below-

FAO Link

IPPC Link

As soon as more information is available, we will let you know.


10th February 2010

CESSATION OF THE USE OF METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION WITHIN THE UKWPMMP


We consulted with the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and the UKWPMMP Advisory Council members last February about the possible phase out of methyl bromide fumigation within the UKWPMMP during 2009. Following representation from the BPCA, we agreed that fumigation services should be permitted to use their stocks of the fumigant until 18 March 2010. This accords with a notice, issued by the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), which gave approval for the storage and use by any persons for the fumigant until 18 March 2010 in accordance with Commission Decision 2008/753/EC – Methyl Bromide – professional products.

All UKWPMMP participants are therefore reminded that fumigation services will cease to be able to use methyl bromide within the UKWPMMP with effect from Friday 19th March 2010 and no further fumigation treatments will be permitted within the Programme on or after this date.

UKWPMMP participants who have methyl bromide treated timber material or manufactured articles of wood packaging material in stock after the fumigant withdrawal date will, however, be permitted to use up these stocks and mark the products with the treatment code ‘MB’ accordingly.


ISPM15 Revised (2009) – THE MODEL MARK

I am aware from recent updates from the Assessment Agencies that many of the UKWPMMP participants have been proactive in revising their wood marks in line with the guidance issued on 15th June 2009. For those companies that have still to amend their marks, so that they meet the requirements of the model examples provided in the revised version of ISPM15, they should note that if they have not done so 12 months on from the assessment that took place before 15th June 2009 (the date of the guidance note), we shall have to withdraw approval to apply the mark with immediate effect. We shall write individually to any company to which this applies inviting them to re-apply to join the Programme again once they have made arrangements to update their mark. It should be noted that this will involve the issue of a new producer code.

All UKWPMMP participants MUST HAVE an example of the new model marks in operation by 15 June 2010. Examples of the new model marks can be seen below for ease of reference.

Yours sincerely

Ian Brownlee
Operations Manager
Forestry Commission

Please click here for a copy of this letter.




15th June 2009 - ISPM15 Revised (2009) - THE MODEL MARK
 

Following the country consultation exercise that took place at the end of last year the final version of the ISPM15 (revised) was published in May 2009 and many of you will have seen a copy of it by now (it can be viewed on the IPPC website at the link shown below). The Advisory Council of the UKWPMMP met on 19 May to consider and agree how the changes to ISPM No.15 are to be implemented in the UK and for your information the minutes of that meeting will be published on both the FC’s and TIMCON’s websites shortly. The FC will then revise the UKWPMMP Plant Health Guide and make any necessary amendments to the Plant Health (Wood Packaging Material Marking) (Forestry) (Order) 2006.
 
 However, in advance of this work, as there is some confusion on the guidance provided in the revised version of ISPM15 concerning what should and should not be included in the new model mark we are issuing clarification of the requirements now. These instructions aim to avoid wood packaging material manufacturers purchasing stencils, stamps and branding iron templates, which would not be acceptable.
 
 The Advisory Council agreed that with immediate effect new members joining the UKWPMMP must use the new style of mark. For existing members the Advisory Council agreed a transition period whereby new format marks must be available for approval at the next assessment, or no later than one year from the date of the last. We recognise, however, that programme members may wish to amend their marks at the earliest opportunity. Please, however, note the footnote on page 13 of ISPM15 (revised) which states – 'At import, countries should accept previously produced wood packaging material carrying a mark consistent with earlier versions of this standard’.
 
 source - IPPC Website
 
 An example of the new mark is below  for information. Variations in the layout of the mark are also below.
 
 Please note that only the information set out in the Annex (IPPC logo, Country Code, Producer code starting with the letters ‘FC’ and Treatment code either ‘HT’ or ‘MB’) are to be included within the border, which is now a mandatory component of the mark. No other information such as Forestry Commission name or logo or company names or logos are to be included within box outlining the mark. As ALL wood packaging material must now be debarked within defined tolerances, the code “DB” is no longer required and should not be included.
 
 Should you have any enquiries about the new mark please do not hesitate to contact me.
 
 Yours sincerely
 
 Ian Brownlee
 Operations Manager
 Forestry Commission




Example 2
 


Example 3


Example 4


Example 5


Example 6


Example 7


8th May 2009 - ISPM15 REVISION 2009 - EXAMPLE ISPM15 MARK NOW ACCEPTED

The examples below illustrate some acceptable variants of the required components of the mark that is used to certify that the wood packaging material that bears such a mark has been subjected to an approved treatment.  For more information on the new (revised) ISPM15 regulation, click here.



Example 1

Example 2

Example 3 (This represents a prospective example of a mark with the border with rounded corners.)

Example 4 (This represents a prospective example of a mark applied by stencilling; small gaps may be present in the border, and the vertical line, and elsewhere among the components of the mark.)

Example 5

Example 6



 


16th April 2007

RE: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT USE OF FC TWO TREE LOGO IS NO LONGER MANDATORY

All participants of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme are hereby notified that, with immediate effect, the inclusion of the FC Two Tree logo and the words ‘Forestry Commission’ will no longer be mandatory within the UKWPMMP mark. However, if you wish to continue to use them then you may do so.

Please see following sample mark.

We have been advised that some importing countries are refusing to accept marks that, in their opinion, do not follow exactly the model shown in Annex II to ISPM No. 15 (as per the example above). We shall continue to defend marks used within the UKWPMMP which in our opinion do meet the recommendations in ISPM No 15 but users may wish to review their mark and consider whether modifications should be made. We will be happy to offer advice where this is requested. It is important to remember that it is the National Plant Protection Organisation of the importing country which is the final arbiter in determining what they will accept although we would hope that in cases of doubt they would check with the authorities in the country of origin.

Ian Brownlee
Forestry Commission
Plant Health Service
EDINBURGH


30th October 2006

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

ISPM15 CERTIFICATION LAW IN GREAT BRITAIN

The Forestry Commissioners are introducing three Statutory Instruments that come into force on 6 November 2006.  These are:

Further information can be found by clicking on the links above.

Statutory Instruments can be viewed on the Stationery Office website. 2006 No. 2695


15th April 2005

Please find 2 documents (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format) which here been sent to us by the Forestry Commission, please read the following documents carefully, as it has very important information about the regulations within the UKWPMMP.

ASSESSMENT NOTES – Issue 1 (Please click here)
Introduction
As the new regime of using independent agencies beds in questions are inevitably being asked as new situations are encountered. This is to be encouraged and we have decided that it will be in everyone’s best interests if, in addition to answering the initial query, the question and its answer are published for all to see. While primarily directed at those carrying out the assessments, we also plan to publish them on our website so that anyone with an interest in the Programme can perhaps benefit from our experience.

ASSESSMENT NOTES – Issue 2 (Please click here)
Background
At an international ISPM15 Workshop held in Vancouver recently delegates discussed some of the poor quality marking applied to wood  packaging material which was considered to be due to some national programmes taking time to 'bed in'.
As the UKWPMMP has been operational since October 2001 ie it has had sufficient time to 'bed in', it was disappointing to note at the Workshop that some wood packaging material, which had been manufactured in the UK, displayed some extremely poor quality marks (see attached photographs). It is appreciated that some companies have experimented with different inks, stamps, stencils, branding
plates etc in order to achieve a high quality of marking but participants should now be able to achieve ISPM15 marking requirements.


30 April 2004

Forestry Commission Plant Health Newsletter No 16
(Adobe Acrobat PDF format) Click here

14 November 2003

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – 
USE OF IPPC LOGO IS COMPULSORY FROM 1 JANUARY 2004


All participants of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme are hereby notified that with effect from 1 January 2004, you will be required to use the new logo. 

Please see following sample mark. 

As per previous communications, you are authorised to use the new IPPC logo provided that you comply with all of the other provisions of the Programme. It remains mandatory that in the UK the logo incorporates the Forestry Commission ‘two tree’ logo.

Please note that the size of the logo is not prescribed and the only requirement is that the mark must be permanent and legible. Furthermore, the colour is not prescribed, however, please note that red and orange should be avoided as they are used to identify dangerous or hazardous cargo.

For wood packaging material comprising more than one component (eg. a pallet), it will be in order for the existing elements of the mark to be on one component and the new IPPC logo on another. This may be necessary if all of the elements are to remain legible. However, it is clearly more practical and economic for the entire mark to be on one vertical component if possible, so it has been decided that the registration number can be restricted to three (3) digits, rather than four (4) ie FC000 and not as shown in the diagram above. 

It is RECOMMENDED, at an additional safeguard against rejection against wood packaging material in the country of import, that pallets and packages be marked on TWO (2) opposite vertical sides so that the likelihood of the appropriate marking being recognised by the importing authorities is increased.

All participants should note that Phytosanitary Certificates are only required for imports into China and that it is a specific advantage of ISPM15 that these certificates are not necessary. It is hoped that the Chinese authorities will in the future adopt the ISPM15 which will eliminate the current requirement for Phytosanitary Certificates.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me in the Timcon Secretariat, on telephone 0116 2640579.


CHINA JUMPS THE GUN OVER IMPORTS
UK wood packaging industry needs to respond to direct  & threat
Click HERE for more information


FORESTRY COMMISSION PLANT HEALTH SERVICE – INFORMATION NOTE 
VERIFICATION OF METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION IN TREATING WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES ISPM 15 Click here for PDF File (Notes) (June 2002)


Heat treatment verification information notes, From the Forestry Commission.
HT Verification Introduction (PDF file) relates to the process involved in the assessment of heat treatment facilities and HT Verification Purchased Timber  (PDF file - updated March 2005) relates to the assessment of heat treated timber obtained from sources in the UK or abroad. Click above for the PDF Files (Notes).  (June 2002)


March 2002

The international standards for phytosanitary measures

Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade.  

(Adobe Acrobat PDF format) Click here


For full information on the European Union Emergency Import rules for softwoods, in force from October 1 2001 see www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth

To access the International Standard for a Phytosanitary Measure entitled 'Guidelines for regulating wood packing material in international trade' (ISPM15) please visit http://www.ippc.int and click on ISPMs in the Publications section.


 

Q House, Troon Way Business Centre, Humberstone Lane, Thurmaston, Leicester, LE4 9HA
Tel: 0116 274 7357, Fax: 0116 274 7365, Email: timcon@associationhq.org.uk