APHIS Conforms U.S. Methyl Bromide Treatment Requirements for Wood Packaging Material with IPPC Standards
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an interim rule, effective June 1, 2007, which amends 7 CFR 319.40-3(b) regarding the U.S. methyl bromide treatment requirements for wood packaging materials (WPM) in order to conform to the International Plant Protection Convention standards.
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APHIS states that this action is necessary because in April 2006, the IPPC amended the "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade" (ISPM 15) by changing the methyl bromide exposure time from 16 to 24 hours and adjusting the concentration readings per cubic meter accordingly; the dosage rate of methyl bromide remained unchanged.
Amendment Aligns Methyl Bromide Schedule With Modified ISPM 15 Standard
APHIS states that the treatment and other WPM requirements of 7 CFR 319.40-3(b) are intended to be consistent with ISPM 15. (ISPM 15 is an international standard for WPM established by the IPPC.)
Therefore, APHIS is amending the methyl bromide treatment schedule that appears in 7 CFR 319.40-3(b)(1)(ii) to be consistent with the ISPM 15 standard by changing the time and adjusting concentration readings.
1 APHIS also refers to WPM as "unmanufactured wood articles"
- Comments must be received on or before July 31, 2007
APHIS Contact - Hesham Abuelnaga (301) 734-0627
APHIS interim rule (D/N APHIS-2006-0129) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-10559.pdf