U.S. finalizes wood packaging treatment enforcement on July 5

U.S. finalizes wood packaging treatment enforcement on July 5    The U.S. government will enter the third and final phase of enforcement of its wood packaging regulation on July 5.
   The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Customs and Border Protection will require that all pallets, crates, boxes and wood used to support or brace cargo, meet import requirements and be free of wood-boring pests before entering or transiting the United States.
   As part of this requirement, all wood packaging must be either treated by heat or methyl bromide fumigation as outlined in the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15). Wood packaging materials must also be marked with an approved international logo, certifying they have been properly treated.
   APHIS and CBP warned that it will order the immediate re-export of any unmarked wood packaging, and any treated wood packaging found to contain wood-boring pests.
   A CBP port director may permit infested wood-packaging to be separated from the cargo prior to re-export. However, all costs associated with the re-exportation will be paid by the importer or “party of interest.”
   The first phase of this regulation took effect on Sept. 16, 2005. The regulations are based on the International Plant Protection Convention standards.