U.S. Proposes to End ISPM 15 Exemption for Canadian Wood Packaging Material
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend 7 CFR Part 319 to remove the exemption that allows wood packaging material derived from Canadian trees to enter the U.S. without first meeting the ISPM 15-based treatment and marking requirements1 that APHIS applies to WPM from all other countries.
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Comments are due by January 31, 2011.
Canadian WPM Can Currently Enter Without ISPM 15 Treatment or Marking
APHIS states that its regulations currently authorize the importation WPM into the U.S. from Canada if accompanied by an importer document stating that the articles are derived from trees harvested in, and have never been moved outside of Canada, and are subject to the inspection and other requirements in 7 CFR 319.40-9.
In contrast, WPM that is not derived from Canadian trees is subject to APHIS’ more rigorous ISPM 15-based treatment and marking requirements.
APHIS is Proposing to Require Canadian WPM Meet ISPM 15
APHIS is proposing to amend 7 CFR 319.40-3(a), by adding a new exclusion to the regulations for Canadian “regulated wood packaging materials, whether in actual use as packing for regulated or nonregulated articles, or imported as cargo.” As a result, WPM from Canada would be subject to the same ISPM 15-based treatment and marking requirements that apply to WPM from all other countries.
(APHIS states that since the implementation of ISPM 15, it and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials have participated jointly in the North American Perimeter Approach Wood and Wood Products Steering Committee to develop a harmonization plan that would entail both countries removing the ISPM 15 exemption they have for each other. Coordination of this plan will take place though APHIS and CFIA’s participation in the North American Plant Protection Organization’s (NAPPO) Forestry Panel.3)
1IPPC International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 entitled "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade", requires heat treatment or fumigation with methyl bromide (MB) and proper marking of all treated materials with the approved International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) symbol and specific control numbers.
2Excluding articles from certain subfamilies of the family Rutaceae, regulated articles of pine that are not completely free of bark from Provinces in Canada that are considered to be infested or partially infested with pine shoot beetle, and regulated articles of ash (Fraxinus spp.).
3In August 2009, the U.S. and Canada announced that they were planning to terminate their bilateral ISPM 15 exemption for WPM made entirely of Canadian origin wood or U.S. origin wood that comes directly to the U.S. from Canada, or to Canada from the U.S. According to APHIS sources, once a final rule is published, APHIS will issue a phase-in plan for Canadian WPM similar to the 2005 three-step phase-in plan that was used for the implementation of ISPM 15 for countries other than Canada.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 08/31/09 news. 09083105, for BP summary on U.S.-Canada plans to terminate their mutual ISPM 15 exemption for wood packaging material.)
APHIS contact -- John Tyrone Jones (301) 734-8860
(APHIS proposed rule, D/N APHIS-2010-0019, FR Pub 12/02/10)