American International Transport, Inc.

Implementation of the Wood Packaging Material (WPM) Regulation

Background:

APHIS revised the import regulations for WPM to be consistent with the International Plant Protection Convention standard ISPM #15. The regulation restricts the importation of many types of wooden packaging materials such as pallets, crates, boxes, and dunnage.

The revised WPM regulation is effective September 16, 2005. The regulation requiresWPM 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. The term “solid wood packing material” used in previous USDA import regulations has been changed to “wood packaging material” to be consistent with ISPM #15. WPM must be marked with the IPPC logo and the two letter ISO code for the country that treated the WPM. The marking must also include the unique number assigned by the national plant protection organization to the company responsible for ensuring the WPM was properly treated, and either the abbreviation HT (heat treatment) or MB (methyl bromide). Paper certification (treatment certificates) will not be required. Example of the WPM mark:

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

Exemptions:
WPM made entirely of manufactured wood material (e.g. particle board, plywood, oriented strand board) and wine and whiskey barrels, or WPM made entirely of thin pieces of wood,(6mm thickness or less) is exempted from the treatment and marking requirements. WPM made of Canadian origin wood is also exempted from the treatment/marking requirements (7CFR 319.40-3). Since determining wood origin will be very difficult and Canada is implementing ISPM #15 requirements, WPM arriving from Canada will be allowed to enter the U.S. without the IPPC mark. WPM from Canada will be inspected for pests.

Implementation Phases:

First Year of Implementation (From present – September 15, 2005)
The revised WPM regulation is effective September 16, 2005. During the 1 year implementation phase, WPM may be imported if in compliance with either current import requirements or the international standard for WPM (ISPM#15).

A. 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 #15.

WPM not in compliance with the above requirements must be destroyed or re-exported.

B. 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 #15. WPM not in compliance with the above requirements must be treated, destroyed or reexported.

Full Implementation–Importations after September 15, 2005
All WPM must be treated and marked in accordance with the regulation 7CFR 319.40-3(b), excluding WPM exempted by the regulation. 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 (non-wood) pests are intercepted with IPPC marked WPM.

For more information see these webpages :
USDA : http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/wood_packaging_materials.shtml
CBP : http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/agriculture/wpm/