Europe/Canada conference issues rule on import wood packaging

Europe/Canada conference issues rule on import wood packaging    The North Europe/Canada conferences have issued a westbound rule related to Canada’s new regulation on coniferous non-manufactured wood packing material.
   Effective Jan. 2, all new or used wood packing material of this kind used in shipments to Canada must be treated and marked according to directive D98-08 adopted by the Canadian food inspection agency, the Canadian North Atlantic Westbound Freight Conference and the Canadian Continental Westbound Freight Conference said.
   “Any expense involved with the carrier’s handling of shipments that do not comply with the directive (including, but not limited to, demurrage, detention, storage, handling, inland transportation, unloading, stuffing, and restuffing of containers, and additional equipment costs) will be for the joint and several account of the shipper, consignee, and cargo owner,” the conferences warned.
   The conference carriers said the shipper or consignee will be held responsible for arranging for the heat treatment or other treatment satisfactory to the carrier of a container that does not comply with the Canadian rules prior to returning the container to the carrier. “Any expense referred to in this paragraph shall be paid to the carrier before release of the container to the consignee occurs,” said the conference lines.
   The shipper and consignee will be solely responsible for any heat treatment of non-manufactured wood packing material destined for Canada that is required by the Canadian directive. The conference carriers will deny any responsibility for treatment, fumigation, or certification of non-manufactured wood packing, and may not absorb its cost, the carrier groups warned.
   The member lines of both the Canadian North Atlantic Westbound Freight Conference and the Canadian Continental Westbound Freight Conference are Canada Maritime, Cast, Hapag-Lloyd and Orient Overseas Container Line.