Implementation of Wood Packaging Material

Plant Protection and Quarantine

November 22, 2004

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has revised its import regulation for wood packaging material (WPM). The revised regulation is consistent with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM): Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (ISPM Publication No. 15), and restricts the importation of many types of wooden packaging materials such as pallets, crates, boxes, and dunnage.

The revised WPM regulation is effective as of September 16, 2005. The regulation requires WPM in use in international trade to be treated. The approved treatments are 1) heat treatment to a minimum wood core temperature of 56ºC for a
minimum of 30 minutes or 2) fumigation with methyl bromide (MB).

WPM also must be marked with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo and the two–letter International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) code for the country that treated the WPM. Additionally, WPM must be marked with a unique number assigned by the national plant protection organization to the treatment facility, and either the abbreviation HT (heat treatment) or MB (methyl bromide). Paper certifications (treatment certificates) are no longer required.

Example of the WPM mark:

XX represents the ISO country code.
000 represents the unique number assigned by the national plant protection organization to the treatment facility.
YY represents either HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide fumigation.

Exemptions from New Requirements:

WPM made entirely of manufactured wood material (e.g. particle board, plywood, oriented strand board), wine and whiskey barrels, and WPM with a thickness of 6 mm or less are exempt from the treatment and marking requirements. WPM of Canadian origin is also exempt from the treatment and marking requirements (7 CFR 319.40-3).

First Year of Implementation (from present through September 15, 2005)

The revised WPM regulation is effective September 16, 2005. During the 1–year phase–in period, WPM may be imported if it is in compliance with either current import requirements or ISPM No. 15.

Shipments Imported from China or Hong Kong must:

Be accompanied by an exporter’s statement in the commercial invoice, bill of lading, or other similar document (including a paper or electronic manifest) stating that the shipment contains no WPM, or
Be accompanied by a certificate signed by an official of the Chinese government or an approved Hong Kong fumigator stating that the wood was heat treated to a minimum of 71.1ºC for 75 minutes or treated with T404 (methyl bromide or kiln dried) or its equivalent, or
Have treated and marked WPM in compliance with ISPM No. 15.

WPM not in compliance with the above requirements must be destroyed or reexported.

WPM imported from all countries other than China or Hong Kong must be:

Free of bark, or
Accompanied with documentation stating the WPM was treated with T404 (methyl bromide or kiln dried) or its equivalent, or heated to a minimum of 71.1ºC for 75 minutes, or
Treated and marked in compliance with ISPM No. 15.

WPM not in compliance with the above requirements must be treated, destroyed or reexported.

Implementation After September 15, 2005

All regulated WPM must be treated and marked in accordance with the regulation 7CFR 319.40-3(b). WPM imported after September 15, 2005, without the IPPC mark must be reexported. Treatment or destruction will not be permitted. Unmarked WPM may be separated from the commodity being imported, if the inspector determines separation can be done without pest escape. A user fee will be assessed for supervising the separation of the WPM from the cargo. Treatment will be allowed if hitchhiking (nonwood–boring) pests are intercepted with IPPC marked WPM.

Additional Information

For more information on the wood packaging material regulation, please visit this Web site: www.aphis.usda.gov/ppa/swp/import.html.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Click here for printable version (PDF)