Listed below you will find proposed implementation dates by country for the adoption of IPPC’s ISPM-15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade. This information has been provided by the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association and forwarded to your organization by Timber Products Inspection n order to give you the most up-to-date information regarding regulations that affect your wood packaging material.

Based on published regulations by the countries below, the following are now or soon will be enforcing ISPM 15:

US, Mexico and Canada have revised their implementation of ISPM 15 with a 3 Phase approach as follows:

• Phase 1 (9/16/05-1/31/06) No action will be taken but notification will be issued to importers that are not using ISPM 15 compliant wood packaging.
• Phase 2 (2/1/06-7/3/06) Rejection of non-compliant wood packaging will be enforced. Quarantine expenses will be billed to the importer.
• Phase 3 (7/4/06 and after) Full enforcement, all imported wood packaging must be ISPM 15 compliant. Wood packaging from Canada going to the USA remains exempt from treatment and marking if Canadian lumber is used. However, an import declaration (Wood packaging in the shipment is derived from trees harvested in Canada or US) is required. A "Made in Canada" stamp is not acceptable.
  
  Canadian pallets made from imported lumber: Aphis tells us that Canadian pallet made from imported lumber must be treated by ISPM-15 guidelines with treatment and marking. They are no longer exempt. NWPCA is assured by Trevor Yu, Forestry Program Officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Canada’s counterpart to the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) that Canada will nor retaliate at this time, they say US pallets are still exempt from treatment and marking. NWPCA will notify you If this situation changes.
  
  Summary information for countries that have begun implementation or announced plants to implement ISPM-15:
  
  ISPM 15 Solid Wood Packaging Update (October 23, 2006)

Based on WTO notification by the countries below, the following are now or soon will be enforcing ISPM 15:

Japan: April 1, 2007

The following countries have incorporated the 24-hr methyl bromide fumigation schedule in their requirements for imported packaging:

Canada: Effective August 1, 2006 (Exemption still granted to the U.S.)

China: Implemented NOW

The minimum temperature should not be less than 10°C and the minimum exposure time should be 24 hours. Monitoring of concentrations should be carried out at a minimum at 2, 4, and 24 hours.

When a fumigation treatment schedule is revised and adopted, as with China and Canada, wood packaging material (WPM) already treated and marked under the previous schedule does not need to be retreated, remarked or recertified. It only applies to WPM that will be treated after adoption of the new schedule.

The Enforcement Committee has adopted this 24-hr fumigation schedule in the MB Program. All certified fumigators have been advised to start using the new schedule immediately; the schedule will be mandatory and has been implemented effective September 18, 2006 (Monday).

The Department of Defense has announced that its shipments both “inside and outside of the United States must meet ISPM 15.” These requirements will be reflected in Defense Logistic Agency solicitations issued as of August 1, 2006. DOD pallets must be heat treatment or kiln dried (DOD does not accept fumigation as a treatment method). For more information, see the American Lumber Standard Committee, Incorporated Web page at www.alsc.org.

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

Argentina: June 1, 2006

Australia: September 1, 2004 (Variations to ISPM-15: Bark-free + packing declaration for ISPM-15 compliant WPM, 21-day rule does not apply); January 1, 2006 will add wood packaging used in break bulk and air cargo to their ISPM-15 enforcement.

Bulgaria: January 24, 2006

Bolivia: July 23, 2005 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

Brazil: June 1, 2005

Canada: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation; exemption granted to U.S.)

Chile: June 1, 2005 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

China: January 1, 2006

Colombia: September 16, 2005

Costa Rica: March 19, 2006

Dominican Republic: July 1, 2006

Ecuador: September 20, 2005 (Date change: previously April 26, 2004)

Egypt: October 1, 2005

European Union: March 1, 2005

Guatemala: September 16, 2005

Honduras: February 25, 2006

India: November 1, 2004 (Variation: Phytosanitary certificate required only for WPM not ISPM-15 compliant)

Indonesia: No published date of implementation (based on their draft regulation, WPM must be debarked and a packing declaration will be required)

Japan: April 1, 2007

Jordan: November 17, 2005

Lebanon: March 26, 2006

Mexico: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation since January 1, 2004)

New Zealand: April 16, 2003 (Variation: Bark-free WPM)

Nicaragua: No published date of implementation

Nigeria: September 30, 2004

Oman: December 2006

Panama: Not yet enforcing ISPM 15

Paraguay: June 28, 2005

Peru: March 1, 2005

Philippines: June 1, 2005

Seychelles: March 1, 2006

South Africa: January 1, 2005 (Variation: 24-MB schedule for softwood packaging)

South Korea: June 1, 2005 (Variation: MB fumigation for softwood packaging must use the 24-hour treatment schedule.)

Switzerland: March 1, 2005

Syria: April 1, 2006

Trinidad & Tobago: September 15, 2005

Turkey: January 1, 2006 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

Ukraine: October 1, 2005

U.S.: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation; exemption granted to Canada -- must provide import declaration that shipment derived from trees harvested in U.S. or Canada -- import lumber must be ISPM-15)

Venezuela: June 1, 2005

Vietnam: June 5, 2005

ISPM-15 Requirements

Compliance with ISPM-15 for wood packaging materials allows for two treatment options:

Heat Treatment (HT): Wood packaging material should be heated in a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes. The American Lumber Standards Committee administers the U.S. certification program for heat treatment.

Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation: The wood packaging material should be fumigated with methyl bromide. NWPCA has been tasked by the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to administer the fumigation program.

NOTE: ISPM 15 requirements apply to all species of coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood) packaging materials.