|
|
News
Courier News Features
MMI
August 2005
Helping Companies
Meet Their Match
Will take a moment to download . .
Message from the Army on our project
New Rules for Importers as of September 16
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has warned
importers to prepare for the upcoming implementation of rules for the
treatment and marking of wood-packaging used with inbound shipments.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulation, which takes effect Sept
ember 16, will apply to pallets, crates, boxes, and dunnage used to
support or brace cargo. The treatment rule was developed as an
international standard to prevent the spread of non-native wood-eating
pests.
In cases of non-compliance, CBP warned that wood packaging materials will
be subject to immediate export along with the accompanying cargo.
"I am asking the trade community to provide its full attention to this
issue to ensure your company's compliance with this rule," said Michael C.
Mullen, director of CBP's Office of Trade Relations, in a statement. "Do
not risk the exportation of your cargo because of noncompliant wood
packaging materials."
The two approved treatments for wood packaging are:
1) Heat treatment to a minimum wood core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius
for a minimum of 30 minutes.
2) Fumigation with methyl bromide.
To certify treatment, the wood packaging material must be marked with the
United Nations Food and Agriculture's International Plant Protection
Convention logo. Paper certificates of treatment will no longer be
required or accepted, CBP said.
Additional information about the rule is available on CBP's Web site:
www.cbp.gov.
New Wooden Packing Requirements for European Shipping
On March
1st 2005 the European Union implemented the ISPM 15
standards for all wood packing materials. This means that all packing
materials, which is essentially any wood used as packing of any kind, must
have been either heat treated or fumigated and bear the proper marking as
such on the wood packing. This effectively means that all shipments to the
EU with export dates from the USA approx early to mid-February should use
the properly treated and marked wood packing. In the event that any wood
packing material does not carry the required marking, action may be taken
at entry into EU in the form of added costs (treatment or disposal) or
possible refused entry. If the wood packing does carry the required mark,
and evidence of live pests is still found, action can be taken also in the
form of added costs (treatment or disposal) or possible refused entry.
Please peruse
the PDF summary notice,
and ensure that your suppliers are using acceptable wood packing for your
products when shipping to the EU in order avoid any possible delays, extra
costs, or associated problems.
Although
EU authorities may have some discretion during the initial implementation
phase of these guidelines, it is best to be prepared and to ship under
full compliance.
|
