July 5th Enforcement of ISPM 15 Wood Packaging Requirements Drastically Effects Regulations on Importing Goods into the United States

Portland, ME, June 28, 2006 --(PR.com)-- On July 5, 2006 the U.S. implements the final phase of the international standards criterion for importing and exporting wood packaging, known as ISPM 15. This rule states that on July 5 all regulated Wood Packaging Material (WPM) entering the United States must be appropriately treated and marked under the official program; developed and overseen by the National Plant Protection Organization.

With this, the United States joins an extensive and emerging list of 60 countries, requiring adherence to ISPM 15 Standards. U.S. exporters are urged to further research the regulations to avoid shipment delays or absolute refusal at their destination country.  A complete listing of all participating countries and any additional tailored standards they may require, is available to Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NeLMA) members and via subscription at www.NeLMA.org.

Under the regulations, importers and U.S. exporters must use wood packaging certified by an authorized agency.  The Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association serves as one of a select few with the authority to inspect all Wood Packaging Material leaving the U.S. bound for other countries that comply with the international ISPM 15 Standard.

Activating the full enforcement of this standard means that beginning on July 5, all Wood Packaging Material must meet the import requirements and be free of timber pests before entering or transiting through the United States. Noncompliant regulated WPM will not be allowed to enter the country, and may be destroyed or returned to the country of origin.

Compliance with ISPM 15 allows for two wood treatment options, Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation or Heat Treatment. With the MB treatment, the wood packaging material is fumigated with methyl bromide. Heat Treatment (HT) of wood packaging material must be heated in a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes.

The only exception to this compliance is WPM of U.S. and Canadian origin moving between the two countries. Through a unilateral agreement, WPM traveling between the U.S. and Canada is exempt from the ISPM 15 compliance and marking requirements. The exception only pertains to WPM coming directly to the U.S. from Canada or directly to Canada from the U.S., and is wood harvested from these countries of origin.

For more information on inspecting Wood Packaging Material or to learn more about the ISPM 15 Standards for both importing and exporting, visit the NeLMA at www.NeLMA.org. The Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association established in 1933, is the rules writing agency for Eastern White Pine lumber and the grading authority for Eastern Spruce, Balsam Fir, Spruce Pine Fir species grouping, and other commercially important eastern softwood lumber species.

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Special Note: The ISPM 15 Update Chart is available for complimentary reprint for qualified media.  In all other instances, this report is copyrighted and intended solely for use by the customers of the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association's ISPM 15 Compliance Inspection Program and Subscribers to NELMA's ISPM 15 Information Services. The table summarizes information compiled from global sources.

To obtain the most recent version, please contact Jeff Easterling at jeff@nelma.org or 207.829.6901