Wood Packing Treatment Programs
The Heat Treatment (HT) and Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation Programs were developed in order for the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) to implement a quality control program for the official labeling of heat treated or methyl bromide fumigated wood packaging material with the ISPM 15 official mark to signify compliance with the ISPM 15 standard.
The American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) in coordination with APHIS and the wood packaging industry has developed official programs in order for the ALSC to implement a quality control program for the official labeling of heat treated WPM with the ISPM 15 official mark to signify compliance with the ISPM 15 standard. The ALSC administers the heat treatment program and the methyl bromide program. The programs require WPM producers to enroll with an inspection agency accredited by the ALSC.
In order for WPM under the HT program to be ISPM 15 compliant, WPM may be produced by one of two methods:
The WPM producer may purchase previously ALSC accredited agency HT grade marked lumber, and cut components from the HT labeled lumber for use in construction of the WPM. The resultant WPM product is then eligible to be labeled with an ALSC Accredited Agency Quality Mark to show the WPM is compliant with ISPM15.
Or,
The WPM producer may construct WPM from lumber that is not heat treated, place the product in a heat chamber and heat treat the WPM product to achieve the minimum wood core temperature of 56 degrees C for a minimum of 30 minutes. The product then must be labeled with one of the ALSC accredited Agency Quality Marks to show the heat treated WPM is compliant with ISPM 15.
The ALSC's WPM policy and WPM Enforcement Regulation are available for review.
In the U.S. the inspection agencies control the issuance of the ALSC Accredited Agency Quality Mark. It is the presence of the ALSC Accredited Agency Quality Mark that will ensure WPM produced in the U.S. and destined for export channels meets the importing countries regulations based on ISPM15. Exporters may purchase WPM on the secondary market from WPM producers certified to apply the ALSC Accredited Agency Quality Mark.
In order for WPM under the MB program to be ISPM 15 compliant, the WPM must be treated by fumigators certified in the program. Fumigators are certified by Inspection agencies enrolled with the American Lumber Standard Committee, to monitor the methyl bromide fumigations and treatment marking application. The agency quality mark may only be applied on WPM
In order for exporters to ensure WPM is treated and given the agency quality mark exporters may contact a fumigator registered in the program, or register with one of the accredited inspection agencies enrolled in the program or purchase WPM bearing the agency quality mark confirming treatment with Methyl Bromide. A listing of inspection agencies as well as fumigators registered in the program may be accessed from the ALSC web site .
In order to ensure your WPM is compliant a listing of inspection agency contacts may be obtained by visiting the American Lumber Standard Committee web site at www.alsc.org or contact the ALSC at 301-972-1700.