ISPM 15

The regulation requires WPM to be either heat treated or fumigated in accordance to ISPM 15 guidelines and also marked with an approved international mark certifying treatment (see marking below).

The requirements will involve the import of wood packing material The restriction covers many types of wood articles, pallets, crates, boxes and dunnage.

Exemption: WPM made entirely of manufactured wood material; particle board, plywood, oriented strand board, wine and whiskey barrels, thin pieces of wood (less than or equal to 6mm). The approved treatments for wood packaging material are

1) heat treatment to a minimum wood core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes or

2) fumigation with methyl bromide.

To certify treatment, the WPM must be marked with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo. Paper certificates of treatment will no longer be required or accepted.

ISPM 15 Solid Wood Packaging Update (July 19, 2005)

Summary information for countries that have begun implementation or announced plans to implement ISPM-15:

North America

Canada : ISPM 15 standards in force, as for other Nappo countries, definitively since July 5th, 2006. Mexico : See Canada (Nappo country). USA : See Canada (Nappo country). The following territories are considered “U.S. Trust”: as a consequence, they apply the same rule: Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa.

Central/SouthAmerica

Argentina : Standards applied since January 1st, 2006. Bolivia : Standards applied since end of July 2005. Wood material must be debarked, but not marked with the corresponding stamp (DB). Brazil Definitive application foreseen as from June 1st , 2005. Principle of reciprocity: compliance requested only from countries already applying the standards. Chile Standards applied since June 1st, 2005. Colombia Standards applied since September 15th, 2005. Costa Rica : Standards applied since March 19th, 2006. Cuba : Standards in force since on October 1st, 2008 Ecuador : Standards in force since September 30th, 2005. Dominican Republic : Standards in force since March 1st , 2006. Guatemala : Standards applied since end of January 2006. Honduras : Standards implemented on March 3rd, 2006 Nicaragua : Implementation September 6th, 2007 Panama : WTO notification stating standards are applied since February 2005. Paraguay : WTO notification stating standards are implemented since half of July 2005. Peru : Definitively in force since January 1st , 2006. Trinidad & Tobago : Standards applied since January 1st, 2006. Uruguay : No WTO notification, but there’s an official statement dated May 31st , 2006 requiring the adoption. Enforcement date after publication in the Official Journal. Venezuela : Standards applied since June 1st, 2005.

Asia/MiddleEast

China ISPM 15 standards implemented since January 1st, 2006 even for wood packing material accompanying goods coming from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Hong Kong SAR is not applying the standards: consequently goods having Hong Kong as final destination are exempt from treatment, but if in transit and destined to China, wood packing material must be ISPM 15 compliant. South Korea : Standards entered into force since June 1st , 2005. Containers are inspected randomly and in case of non-compliance with ISPM 15 the material is treated locally. Philippines ISPM 15 compliant since June 1st , 2005. Japan WTO notification announcing the implementation starting from April 1st , 2007. Jordan Enforcement notified as from November 2005. India Entered into force since November 1st , 2004. Non-compliant packing material must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. Indonesia : Implementation foreseen on September 2009, packing declaration recommended. Lebanon : Entered into force since March 9th , 2006. Oman WTO notification stating standards are applied since December 2006. Seychelles Entered into force since March 1st , 2006. Singapore It is recommended to importers to apply the rules, mainly in order to satisfy the needs connected with re-exportation, but authorities do not require ISPM 15 as a local rule. Sri Lanka Date of adoption indicated: March 1st, 2004 but no confirmation of date of enforcement. Syria ISPM 15 compliance required since January 1st , 2006. Taiwan : Enforcement date foreseen January 1st, 2009 Vietnam : Vietnam has published requirements adopting ISPM15, without WTO notification. Date of enforcement: June 5th, 2006

Europe

Russian federation : ISPM15 are not in force, but the government is preparing a decree for adoption Norway : Application starting from January 1st, 2009 Croatia : Standard applied since January 1st, 2007 Switzerland Application as from March 1st , 2005 (same as EU). EU countries do not have to apply the rules. Turkey : Application as from January 1st , 2006. Ukraine : An official notification states that standards are applied since October 1st , 2005.

European Union

Application since March 1st , 2005: all wood packing material entering the EU territory from third countries (Switzerland excluded) must be ISPM 15 compliant. The provision requiring debarking has been postponed until January 1st, 2009.

Oceania

Australia : Australia is accepting the standards, in parallel with its own rules. Since January 1st , 2006 standards are applied even to goods imported by air and to break bulk. Fiji : Have indicated intention to adopt ISPM 15 but no official enforcement date has been confirmed. New Caledonia : Date of enforcement: June 1st, 2006. New Zealand : It is applying its own rules since June 1st , 2003, while accepting even the ISPM 15 standards. Samoa : Phytosanitary certificate is required unless wood packing material is ISPM 15 compliant.

Africa

Egypt : Standards are in force since October 1st , 2005. Kenya : Kenya has published requirements adopting ISPM 15, without WTO notification. Date of enforcement: January 2006 Nigeria : All wood packing material must be ISPM 15 compliant since October 1st , 2004. A phitosanitary certificate is required in case of non-compliance. South Africa : All wood packing material must be ISPM compliant since January 15th, 2005.