Importation of Wood Packaging Material (WPM)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) have revised the Solid Wood Packaging Material Regulation, which will go into effect September 16, 2005. APHIS states that at full implementation, after September 16, 2005, regulated WPM not bearing the required marking will be immediately re-exported.

The regulation requires WPM to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide in accordance to ISPM#15 guidelines and also marked with an approved international mark certifying treatment (see marking below). Paper certification of treatment will no longer be required or accepted (except Canada).

The requirements will involve the import of wood packing material into the United States from ALL foreign origins. 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).

WPM originating out of Canada into the US is exempt from marking requirements but is still subject to inspection for pests. An importer statement stating that they are derived totally from trees harvested in Canada must accompany Canada shipments.

Marking exemption for regulated WPM used by DOD: According to the final rule, regulated WPM used by the Department of Defense (DOD) to package non-regulated articles, including commercial shipments pursuant to a DOD contract, may be imported into the U.S. without the above-described mark.

Labeling Requirements

• The WPM must be marked with an approved international mark certifying treatment.
• The mark must include a unique graphic symbol, the ISO two letter country codes for the country that produced the WPM, a unique number assigned by the National Plant Protection Agency of that country to the producer of the WPM.
• An abbreviation disclosing the type of treatment:
• HT for heat-treatment
• MB for methyl bromide fumigation
• The WPM must be marked in a visible location on each shipment, preferable on at least two opposite sides of the shipment, with a legible and permanent mark indicating that the article has been treated as required.

Additional information is available at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2005/09/wdpacmat_ppq.html