We are a member of the Forestry Commissions Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme and have an ISPM15 heat treatment facility on site to heat treat pallets, timber, cases and dunnage for export.

What is ISPM15?

ISPM15 is an internationally agreed standard for the treatment of wood packaging. It covers pallets, cases, crates, as well as dunnage (loose packing or wedges) that are manufactured from non-man made wooden materials. Materials such as plywood, chipboard and oriented strand board which pose no risk are exempt, as is wood of 6mm (1/4inch) or less, as used in fruit boxes etc.

In order for wood packaging to become compliant it is required to undergo either a process of heat treatment or fumigation, both of which must be carried out to an agreed standard and by an approved source.

Only once the packaging has been treated it may be officially marked as ISPM15 compliant.

Why do we need ISPM15?

ISPM15 is progressively being adopted worldwide as a measure to minimise the risk of unintentional plant pest transportation such as the Asian longhorn beetle and Pine wood nematode, the effects of which can be devastating as the USA and a number of other countries have experienced. What is involved in heat treatment?

It is required that the core temperature of the timber is heated to a minimum of 56 Deg Celsius for 30 minutes. To achieve this the timber is placed in our kiln with temperature probes inserted into the core of the timber. The kiln is then heated, whilst being monitored by a computer, until the core temperature is achieved and maintained for 30 minutes. (Approximately 5-6 hours)

How do I know that the timber has been treated?

Approved heat treated timber in the UK will be stamped with the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programmed (WPMMP) stamp, which is governed by the forestry commission which inspects our kiln every 6 months. Every Pallet, crate etc will carry this mark in a visible location. (i.e. Pallet Block).

An example stamp is illustrated below:

What Countries require ISPM15?

Argentina:

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

Australia:

Australia (AQIS) has formally announced that they are to implement ISPM15 alongside their existing regulations with effect from 1 September 2004. This will give shippers a choice of which option to choose and is mainly for the benefit of countries that have not yet implemented ISPM15. In addition to heat treatment or fumigation by methyl bromide (for 24 hours - not 16 hours as currently cited in ISPM15), wood packaging material must also be debarked. Details of the new rules are set out in AQIS Notice to Industry No 19

Canada:

Canada has published its Directive regulating wood packaging material imports from all countries other than the USA. The Directive came into effect on 2nd January 2004. . However, it will not be fully implemented until 1 April 2005.

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

China:

China announces plans to implement ISPM15 on wood packaging material. Please note that China has yet to announce the date of implementation and their existing requirements therefore remain in place until further notice.

Phytosanitary Certificate required

EU has agreed changes to the Plant Health Directive including implementation of ISPM15 ‘Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade’. The new requirements, which are summarised here will come into force throughout the European Community on 1 March 2005. the full text will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, possibly by the end of August.

See: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/oj/.

You may wish to know that the EU has today published the Official Journal with the so-called "wood package" of amendments to the Plant Health Directive which includes implementation of ISPM 15.

For the link to the relevant Official Journal, Click Here:

Hong Kong:

Phytosanitary Certificate not required unless transiting through Hong Kong to China

India:

India has published details of its landing requirements. Material with a plant origin used for packaging must either be heat treated or fumigated.

India has published details of its implementation of ISPM15 and landing requirements for wood packaging material w.e.f. 1st November 2004, see attached Web page: http://www.plantquarantineindia.org/packing.htm

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

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.

Mexico has notified through the WTO its intention to implement ISPM 15.The date that the new requirements will come into force has yet to be determined, but full implementation is likely to be in line with the USA in September 2005. An information note published by the Mexican authorities can be viewed. (Last updated 3 November 2004).

http://www.nappo.org/Standards/Other-Docs/NOMEM144 Eng-rev.pdf

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

Nigeria:

Nigeria (Update 8th October 2004)- we have received an up date to Mrs Oraka's, Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service, letter dated 16 August, which now states that Nigeria does NOT require a phytosanitary certificate if the mark on the body of the packaging materials indicates that it has been treated as stated in ISPM15

We have also received email correspondence dated from the Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service stating:

‘All wood packaging and dunnage must be marked with IPPC logo and be accompanied with certificate of treatment. In the absence of IPPC logo and certificate of treatment it must then be accompanied with phytosanitary certificate issued by Plant Protection Organisation of exporting country’.

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

Phillipines:

Phillipines announced in June that they had implemented ISPM15 but a further announcement (20 July 2004) notifies that they will now partially implement ISPM15 on 1 January 2005 (treated but without the need for marking) with full implementation on 1 June 2005. After that date they will require all wood packaging material entering their territory should be treated and marked in accordance with ISPM15. Further details and information may be obtained through (epad.polreser@eudoramail.com).

South Korea:

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

Republic of Korea WTO notification of intent to implement ISPM15 - date to be determined but unlikely to be before 2005.

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

South Africa:

South Africa WTO notification of intent to implement ISPM15, date - likely to be November 2004.

Switzerland:

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.

North America:

NAPPO (North American Plant Protection Organisation) has published a statement about implementation of ISPM 15 in North American countries (Canada, USA and Mexico). The statement reads:

‘NAPPO countries are working towards a harmonized implementation date and are targeting the middle of 2005 for full implementation. In the meantime, NAPPO countries may issue notices to exporting countries informing them of incidents of non-compliance with ISPM No. 15 and the date of strict enforcement’.

‘NAPPO countries are encouraging all exporting countries to meet the conditions of ISPM 15 which requires that all wood packaging material be appropriately treated and marked under an official program developed and overseen by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) in the country of export. Until full implementation, NAPPO countries will enforce their current requirements for imported wood packaging material’.

Turkey:

Turkey has announced through the WTO notification procedure its intention to implement ISPM 15 from 1 January 2005. View the Notification here. In summary, wood packaging material from all countries entering Turkey must be debarked and either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and marked in accordance with ISPM 15.

USA:

The USA announced on 9 September 2004 that it will implement landing requirements for wood packaging material, including dunnage, with effect from 16 September 2005 . All WPM and dunnage will require to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and marked in accordance with ISPM15 on at least one vertical surface.

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.

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

New Zealand:

New Zealand announces eight new import regulations including one for wood packaging material - published 16 April 2003.

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

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

This information is provided by timcon for up to date listings of global ISPM15 implementation and import regulations please go to Timcon.org

More Information is available here:

www.forestry.gov.uk

www.timcon.org

www.ippc.int