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

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