Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Re:	OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR TRADE COMMODITY REGARDING
	IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WOOD PACKING MATERIALS (WPM) REGULATION

Dear NASA Member:

Please take note of the WPM Specific Exemptions section on Page 2 regarding wine crates.

Background:
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has revised its import regulation for wood packaging materials (WPM), 7 CFR § 319.  The final rule was posted in the Federal Register September 16, 2004, with an effective date of September 16, 2005.       

Best regards,

North American Shippers Association (NASA)
Joan Barrett
NASA Administrator