U.S. Department of Agriculture rules on imports of Eucalyptus wood chip

U.S. Department of Agriculture rules on imports of Eucalyptus wood chip    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow large-volume imports of Eucalyptus wood chip into the United States if they are treated with surface pesticide.
   In recent years, U.S. companies have increased their imports of wood chips from this fast-growing tree. South American countries, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, have encouraged the planting of Eucalyptus trees. Brazil, the largest Eucalyptus producer, has planted about 3 million hectares of these trees for harvest.
   The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it wants to accommodate U.S. wood products companies, but warned that imported logs, lumber and other unmanufacturered wood could introduce pests and pathogens into American forests.
   Currently, Eucalyptus logs and lumber may be imported into the United States without treatment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering new treatment regulations, such as heat, methyl bromide fumigation and surface pesticide, for these imports.
   The U.S. Department of Agriculture said heat and methyl bromide treatments may be too impractical for large wood chip loads, and has gone ahead with requiring surface pesticide treatments.