The USA & Canada have finally agreed upon a phase-in period to terminate the bi-lateral agreement between these two large trading countries. Today, all wood packaging is allowed to move freely with-out any treatment, unless being shipped from a quarantined region of either country. In March 2010, the first phase-in period will commence to have all wood packaging meet IPPC-ISPM No. 15. Be advised all of your customers that this termination will affect all wood packaging and all species.

Background

Wood packaging materials (WPM) including dunnage, pallets, cratings etc are currently regulated by ISPM 15 for product movement offshore. ISPM 15 requires WPM to be heat treated to 56 degrees C for 30 minutes at the core of the product and stamped with the ISPM 15 mark for shipments offshore. ISPM 15 requirements have not been enforced between Canada and the US as there has been an bilateral exemption between the two countries.

'Way Out West'
Original Document
PDF (Page 7)

Issue

The bilateral exemption between the US and Canada is going to be removed and the adoption of ISPM 15 Certification(treatment and marking) will be implemented

Harmonized Time Frame

March 2010 – proposing to establish and announce the timeframe of full implementation September 2010 – commence notification of non-compliance October 2011 to January 2012

Proposed time frame when full implementation will be required.

Once full implementation is declared, all WPM moving between the countries will require to be certified (treated and marked) - regardless of the date of production. Not all wood packaging entering will be required to “comply with the requirements of ISPM No. 15 Version 2009” - i.e. repair requirements, etc. because the wood packaging may have been produced prior to the adoption of ISPM No. 15 Version 2009 - but following the adoption of ISPM No. 15 Version 2003. But it will still have to be treated and marked.

ghughes@woodpackagingsolutions.ca

Proposed change between US and Canada (information relayed to NWPCA by the USDA APHIS Forestry Products Trade Director)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service APHIS) and Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have determined the ISPM 15 wood packaging exemption between the two countries has become disadvantageous to controlling the introduction and spread of invasive species.

The growing number of invasive species establishing in the two countries mandates the removal of the ISPM No. 15 exemption to further insure the safety of our groves, orchards, forests and nurseries. The USDA and CFIA are developing an action plan which involves a 2 year phase-in period.

The three phases of implementation will take part in four steps:

1. One year for industry preparations to comply with the standard.

2. Phase 1: Six months of informed compliance. Notices will be posted in connection with cargo that contains noncompliant WPM.

3. Phase 2: Six months of rejection of violative noncompliant wood crates and wood pallets through re-exportation. Informed compliance and notices posted in cargo with other types of noncompliant WPM (dunnage, blocking and bracing).

4. Phase 3: Full Enforcement on all articles of regulated WPM entering United States of America and North America. Shipments containing noncompliant regulated WPM will not be allowed to enter United States of America.

An official start dates will be announced after further discussions with CFIA, Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency.