Home
My Account
ISPM15
Join US
Affiliates
Buyers Guides
Find a Supplier
Events
Standards
Publications
Media
Links
From the 1st January 2021, it will be a legal requirement for all wood packaging material moving in both directions between
UK and the EU to be compliant with a treatment and mark as specified in the International Standard for Phytosanitary measures No 15 (ISPM15).
Please read the FAQs below. If you don't see the answer you need, then contact
info@timcon.org
TIMCON Brexit Q&A last updated 171120.pdf
Defra ISM15 WPM Q and A.pdf
BREXIT
UPDATE 23/11/2020
Penalties for non-compliance of WPM
EASEMENT DOCUMENT ALLOWS FURTHER WPM REPAIR OPTION IN BREXIT LEAD UP
Heat-treated wooden components will be temporarily allowed for the repair of wooden pallets and packaging, increasing
options for businesses who want to grow their capacity of ISPM15-compliant wooden packaging material (WPM) before the
final Brexit deadline on December 31, 2020.
BREXIT UPDATE (updated from 17th November)
Currently, all wood packaging material (WPM) moving between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU),
including Switzerland and Liechtenstein, can move freely without checks and controls. At the end of the Transition
Period, this will change. From 1 January 2021 all WPM moving between GB and the EU must meet ISPM15 international
standards by undergoing heat treatment and marking. All WPM may be subject to official checks either upon or after
entry to the EU or GB. This requirement is already in place for WPM moving between the Rest of World (RoW), i.e.
non-EU countries, and the EU, and UK. Checks on WPM will be carried out in GB on a risk-targeted basis. The plant
health risk from WPM imported from the EU is not expected to change from 1 January 2021.
TIMCON is be providing an industry round up of COVID 19 developments, using originally sourced material and information gathered from our colleagues at other timber related organisations and bodies to give an overall, related picture.
Weekly updates
Below you will find a document highlighting the potential penalties for non-compliance of WPM from the 1st
January 2020 and represents the penalties applied to all non-compliant WPM from around the world, and so
will be legally enforceable from the the 1st January on WPM coming from the EU, and vice versa.
Penalties
for Imported WPM that does not comply with ISPM15.pdf
Changes to Plant Health Regulations affecting controlled forestry material from 1 January 2021
Below you will find information highlighting the changes to Plant Health Regulations from the 1st January
2021. From an ISPM15 context, the below is pertinent and is highlighted in gree in the document:
"Imports of sawn conifer timber, which is bark free, will still be permitted without PCs (unless it is from
Portugal or Spain) and it is recommended that any accompanying commercial documentation carries the statement
that the product is free from bark (not de-barked). Associated dunnage (bearers, stickers and spacers) of the
same type and quality of this bark-free material need not be ISPM15 compliant where it is banded together with
the sawn timber product."
Changes to Plant Health Regulations affecting controlled forestry material from 1st Jan 2021.pdf
The new measure was proposed by the UK Government and also approved by the devolved governments on a temporary basis to
help raise stocks of compliant WPM in the weeks remaining before the cut-off date, and in the first half of next year.
This is because, as the UK Government has stated, from January 1, 2021 ‘it will be a legal requirement for all wood
packaging material moving in both directions between UK and the EU to be compliant with a treatment and mark as
specified in the International Standard for Phytosanitary measures No 15 (ISPM15).’
If you are currently registered on the UKWPMMP to produce ISPM15 compliant packaging, you can apply for the temporary
easement by downloading the documents below, and sending in the completed form (Form 2D) to
info@ukwpmmp.org
Addendum Temporary easement ISPM15 repairs.pdf
UKWPMMP Easement Form 2D.docx
Note: The easement is open only to existing members of the UKWPMMP and their approved sites as from the 17th November 2020, and will be subject to them fulfilling the terms and conditions of the addendum. It will be valid until July 31, 2021.
DEAL or NO DEAL:
The UK is leaving the EU’s customs union and single market. That means businesses will have to prepare for
life outside of these, which will inevitably mean extra processes required on UK-EU trade. As such, after the end
of the Transition Period, all wood packaging material (WPM), including wooden pallets, moving between GB and the EU
must be treated and appropriately marked in compliance with international standards (ISPM 15). This is in line with
international requirements for trade and is in place to protect both the EU and GB from harmful plant pests and
diseases.
Further government info:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-and-exporting-plants-and-plant-products-from-1-january-2021#movement-of-wood-packaging-material
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-border-operating-model
https://www.gov.uk/transition
TIMCON WEEKLY INDUSTRY COVID-19 UPDATES
Our members are key to keeping the supply chain going and ensuring food and medicines are supplied to the public in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
TIMCON is liaising with HM Government and other related bodies and organisations on the situation on the front line of the timber packaging, pallet and forest-based industry. We would like to hear from you on what issues you are currently facing to allow us to feed this back to Government at our weekly online meetings. Contact Stuart Hex at info@timcon.org.
Weekly Update - Issue 8
Weekly Update - Issue 7
Weekly Update - Issue 6
Weekly Update - Issue 5
Weekly Update - Issue 4
Weekly Update - Issue 3
Weekly Update - Issue 2
Weekly Update - Issue 1
Wooden pallets play a vital role in the world of commerce. In a very real sense "pallets move the world". For three decades pallet manufacturers worldwide have trusted Pallet Design System™ (PDS) to provide professional and safe pallet designs.
Timcon members receive a reduced rate and free NWPCS
membership with PDS.
Click
here for more information.