LATEST NEWS IN WOOD-BASED PACKAGING
Several countries enforcing ISPM-15 beginning June 2005
Starting June 1, 2005 several countries will start enforcing the ISPM-15 standard on all incoming (including transit through) wood packaging materials to their respective country. The ISPM-15 guidelines describe the phytosanitary measures used to reduce the risk of introduction and/or spread of quarantine pests associated with wood packaging materials. The standard was adopted in March 2002 by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM), which directs the objectives of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The IPPC is an international treaty relating to plant health to which approximately 124 governments currently adhere.The approved measures are heat treatment (which is different to kiln drying) and fumigation with methyl bromide. Woods that were treated by either method must have an approved mark for the certification of the approved treatment measure.
The countries enforcing ISPM-15 February 2 updates:
• China
• Costa Rica
• Canada
• Puerto Rico
• Turkey
Other countries that are already implementing and will implement in the near future can be found in the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA) website:
http://www.nelma.org/nelma/udp_images/IPPC_Update.pdf
For more information about ISPM please go to the Department of Agriculture website:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/printindex.jsp?file=forestry/pages/ispm_15.xml