|
|||
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
NASA
News
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
||||||
 |
 |
Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2004
| Re: |
WOOD PACKING MATERIAL UPDATE |
Dear NASA Member:
As you know, the United States has signed an international agreement on proper treatment and certification of Wood Packing Material (WPM) accompanying import shipments. The international standard, known as ISPM 15, has been codified by U.S. regulation and will take effect on September 16, 2005.
What is required? Under the new international standard all wood packing material must be heat treated or fumigated in accordance with the standard. Once treated the materials must display a specified mark developed by the International Standards Committee, which has been trademarked for this purpose. This mark is proof that the materials have indeed been treated in accordance with the standard. No further certification is required to assure compliance.
What is covered? The standard applies to all unprocessed wood or wood products (excluding paper products) used in supporting, protecting or carrying a commodity. This includes pallets, dunnage, crating, packing blocks, drums, cases, load boards, pallet collars, and skids. Please note that it applies to all wood packing material - not just softwood.
Again, this takes effect for imports into the U.S. on September 16, 2005. Thus, between now and then you need to be sure that your foreign suppliers have access to WPM that is compliant with the international standard.
Exports. The implementation dates for U.S. exports going to various foreign markets is very difficult to track as each country is implementing on its own timetable. Further, some countries are requiring WPM to exceed the ISPM 15 requirements by, say, mandating debarking of all WPM. We do our best to monitor implementation dates of countries that have announced their intention to implement the international WPM standard. Below is the latest version of this list.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Also, we encourage you to let us know if you obtain information that either clarifies or contradicts the information we have obtained from foreign governments relating to implementation of ISPM 15.
Best regards,
North American Shippers Association
Joan Barrett
Administrator
