Updated 20th April 2004

Requesting shipment declarations with customs documentation stating that timber packaging is bark and pest free.

Australia (AQIS) has announced proposals to implement ISPM 15 alongside their existing import requirements for wood packaging material. These are planned to take effect from 1 July 2004. Details are set out in Public Quarantine Alert 0331.

http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_topiccontent.asp?TopicType=Quarantine+Alert&TopicID=8270

ISPM15 compliant packaging submitted from Canada and New Zealand is now being accepted by AQIS – this concession does not presently extend to the EU.

At present therefore all wood packing should comply with the current and well established AQIS requirements. Goods entering this region will be subject to inspection and should certification not be present delays will occur as AQIS treatment procedures are employed at the exporters cost. For further details visit: www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/swp/swaus

An implementation date of 2nd January 2004 was finally published in late October 2003. Shipments entering Canada on or after 2nd January ‘04 should be fully compliant. The Canadian authorities will be carrying out random inspection possibly instigating treatment of wood packaging that is non-compliant, and in such instances charges will be incurred.

Whilst UK exporters to this market can expect a degree of leniency in the short-term, and non- complaint wood packaging found to fail to comply might result in a ‘correction notice’ being issued to the exporter. The purpose of this procedure is to inform of the new regulation and instruct future compliance – such notices must be seen as warnings and continual infringement is unlikely to be tolerated.

To ensure acceptance Timcon advises exporters to this market and other NAPPO countries to make every effort to utilise ISPM15 compliant wood packaging.

Compliance will be mandatory from 1st July 2004, please visit: www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth for further details.

Continuation of the “emergency measures” remains in place. Support for the new IPPC standard has been signalled to the ‘WTO’, and as such implementation will occur – whilst there are no present indications as to when this may be it is widely believed that adoption will closely follow that of the EU.

In short, either ‘HT’ or ‘Mb’ treated wood packaging should be supplied and marked by an approved UKWPMMP producer and accompanied by a ‘Forestry Commission’ phytosanitary certificate.

Implementation is now set to occur 1st January 2005. The earlier target date of 1st July 2004 has been deferred due to requests received from non-EU states and some reported difficulties amongst members in completing necessary. national legislation within this timescale.

The effect of adoption upon UK companies exporting to clients in other EU member states is nil, as cross border. transfers are exempt. With effect from 1st January 2005, any non-EU country exporting to any member state within the ‘Community’ will be required to provide ISPM15 compliant (HT/Mb) wood packaging.

Indications of moves towards ISPM15 implementation have been made, but no official WTO announcement nor target date has been published. It is reported that some requests are being received for phytosanitary certificates for exports to meet landing requirements to this country, the Forestry Commission is already handling this issue.
With effect from 1st April 2004 all wood packaging entering India should be treated to ISPM15 standards and must be accompanied by "phyto" certification. At the current time these requirements appear to be identical to that of the "Chinese Emergency regulations" therefore.

However, it does appear that processed wood is not exempt from these measures and that treatment and a "phyto" will also be required for these materials. Timcon seek further clarification on this topic.

Please note that at this time, the Indian requirements are very unclear. Therefore the Forestry Commission advise to keep an eye on the following websites:-

Further details are available at:

http://www.plantquarantineindia.org

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/IndiaPQ.pdf/$FILE/IndiaPQ.pdf

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Indiapqamendment.pdf/$FILE/Indiapqamendment.pdf

Aiming to adopt at the same time as both the USA and Canada. However, there was no official confirmation of this as at 29-01-04. At the present time wood packaging should be bark free, and free of signs of infestation. It is widely expected that implementation will occur in line with that of the USA.

Whilst the use of ISPM wood packaging is not a mandatory requirement for this market at the current time, Timcon recommend it’s use in order to guarantee total acceptability.

Indications that adoption will occur have been made, and a target date of 1st July 2004 has been announced.

An ‘agreement of equivalence’ has been reached between the EU and the Swiss. Wood packaging emanating from this market can be regarded in the same way as that from any EU member state.

Initially aiming to adopt in the first quarter of 2004, but APHIS will now be publishing regulations 1st May with a view to achieving full implementation 6-12 months later.

As of 2nd January 2004 the USA authorities began applying more stringent importation controls on wood packaging that was not found to be ISPM15 compliant. Initially it is believed that such inspections will be concentrated mostly upon cargoes emanating from higher risk countries.

Non-compliant wood packaging found to pose no plant health risk will be allowed to enter the country –although the importer will be served with an advisory ‘correction notice’.

However, there is increasing evidence that cargoes containing wood packaging that fail to be ISPM15 compliant may be subject to import delay, and that treatment or even return of the cargo in question could occur should it be found to pose a plant health risk.

Whilst the use of ISPM wood packaging is not a mandatory requirement for this market at the current time, Timcon recommend it’s use in order to guarantee total acceptability.

Existing importation standards for wooden packaging still apply although the authorities have added the IPPC-ISPM15 standard to their list of acceptable treatments. For more information please visit:
www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/imports/forests