CBP takes phased-in approach to wood packaging enforcement

CBP takes phased-in approach to wood packaging enforcement    U.S. Customs and Border Protection has outlined its plan for phased-in enforcement of the Agriculture Department’s regulation for treatment of wood packaging materials.
   The rule, effective Friday, requires wood packaging materials, such as pallets, crates, boxes and dunnage, to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide. To certify the treatment, the materials must show an approved International Plant Protection Convention logo. Unmarked wood packaging will be considered “untreated and non-compliant,” CBP said.
   The agency said it will roll out enforcement in three phases.
   The first phase, starting Friday, involves an “informed compliance” period with no stoppage of shipments for non-compliant wood packaging materials. During this phase, CBP will perform visual exams of cargo.
   For the second phase, starting Feb. 1, CBP will continue its informed compliance on all regulated wood packaging, except for pallets and crates. The agency will begin full enforcement of the ban on untreated pallets and crates. Beginning in this phase, CBP port directors may order the immediate export of all shipments containing untreated wood packaging, if the cargo can not be separated.
   During the third phase, beginning July 5, CBP will initiate full enforcement at the shipment level. CBP port directors will order the immediate export of all shipments containing untreated wood packaging, including cargo if it can not be separated.
   CBP said all expenses incurred for the services of its officers and agriculture specialists involved in the separation of cargo will be charged to the importer or other related parties. Wood packaging materials and related cargo will also be exported at the importer’s expense.
   In addition, the U.S. regulation for wood packaging does not permit treatment at the ports and does not allow for any alternative disposal methods, CBP said.
   More information about the wood packaging regulation, exemptions and enforcement is available online at https://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/ .