United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine IPPC International Standard ISPM 15

United States Department of AgricultureAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

IPPC International StandardISPM 15

Guidelines for Regulating

Wood Packaging Material (WPM) in the Transport of Commodities



International Plant Protection Convention(IPPC)

A multilateral international treaty dealing with preventing the spread and introduction of plant pests

149 Signatory governments

Food and Agriculture Organization (FA0) of the United Nations



Purpose: International Standards

Each member country still has to draft

and implement their own regulation.

Harmonize requirements between signatory countries



National StandardsNational Plant Protection Organization

(NPPO)

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is recognized as the NPPO for the United States of America



Specific Components of the Wood Packing Material Standard:

Products affected by International Standard include unprocessed raw wood (hardwood/softwood)

packaging including dunnage



Specific Components of the Wood Packing Material Standard:

Wood Packing Material made entirely of processed manufactured wood (plywood, particle board, OSB, veneer) is exempt from the standard.

Raw Wood less than 6mm (0.24 in) in thickness is also exempt.



Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard

Treatment/Processing Options:

Heat Treatment (HT) and Fumigation with Methyl Bromide (MB) are the approved measures

Accepted by all signatory countries, for all types of wood (hardwood/softwood)

Allows for the free movement of wood packing material regardless of country of origin



Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard cont’d:

Treatment/Processing Options:

Official mark on the wood – No paper certification is required.

No requirement for debarking except dunnage is required to be

treated under approved measures or otherwise be bark free.



Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard cont’d

HEAT TREATMENT:

Wood Packaging Material heated to a minimum wood core temperature of 56°c for minimum of 30 minutes.

Required by the standard to be an official program with official marks and official oversight by the NPPO



Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard

Mark should contain ISO two letter Country code with unique number assigned by grading agency and the IPPC abbreviation (HT or MB)

NOTE: Where debarking is required, the letters DB should

be added to the abbreviation of the approved measure.

XX - 000HT or MB

Marking for Approved Measures (HT & MB)



Organization of HT Program

American Lumber

Standard Committee

17 Inspection Agencies

Over 3400 Enrolled Manufacturers

USDA APHIS PPQ



ALSC and Inspection Agency Responsibilities (MOU)

• Inspection Agencies accredited by ALSC audit facilities producing and quality marking of wood packaging (WP) for conformance to ISPM15.

• Inspection agencies confirm that heat treated wood packaging for export is properly marked

• Maintain signed agreements with agencies• Maintain register of participating WP facilities• Agencies shall follow the ALSC Policy and “Wood Packaging

Enforcement Regulations.”



Three Tier Audit Program—Heat Treatment Program

Inspection Agencies audit Manufacturers Monthly check for: work plan compliance, review of heat chamber records, and

inspection of HT lumber

ALSC audits Inspection Agencies Monthly for: work plan compliance, consolidated reports, and Quality Control

procedures

On-site audits of Manufacturers with Inspection Agencies

APHIS audits ALSC and Inspection Agencies Semi-annually for compliance with MOU

Periodic Field Audits of Manufacturers with Inspection Agencies



Attachment A:

Typical Marks of the 26 ALSC Accredited Untreated Agencies Placed on Lumber Indicating the Lumber Has Been Heat Treated In Compliance With ISPM 15

K D - H T N L G A

®

•Accredited agency insignia

•HT designation signifying lumber has been heat treated to 560 C for at the core for a minimum of 30 minutes

•Unique number assigned to the producer of the HT lumber



Attachment B:

Typical WPM Quality Marks of the 13 ALSC Accredited Agencies Placed on Wood Packaging Material Indicating WPM Has Been Heat Treated In Compliance With

ISPM 15

Marks are identical to the mark shown in Annex 2 of the ISPM 15 standard with the exception the accredited agency insignia is added to the marking



NOTICE!

• You can not purchase HT lumber and apply the ISPM 15 stamp unless enrolled in the program by a grading agency.

• You can work with a grading agency to manufacture your crates/pallets and they can apply the ISPM 15 stamp on an “on-call” basis.



Use of ISPM 15 Compliant WPM• WPM that is marked and certified in

compliance with ISPM 15 may be reused regardless of country of origin

• ISPM 15 compliant WPM that has been repaired or remanufactured must be recertified under the HT or fumigation option



International IPPC Stamps



NAPPO Countries

United States of America

Canada

Mexico

http://www.nappo.org/Standards/Woodpacking-bil1.htm



WPM Requirements of NAPPO Countries USA, Canada and Mexico implemented

ISPM 15 concurrently on September 16, 2005.

– There is an exemption for ISPM 15 requirements for WPM between the USA and Canada only.



United States is a member of NAPPO

The USA’s adoption and enforcement of ISPM 15 on September 16, 2005 also includes the following US controlled territories.– Puerto Rico

– US Virgin Islands

– Guam

– American Samoa

– Midway Islands



WPM movement between the US and its territories are consider domestic and NOT international movement.



Existing WPM Requirements

European Union (EU)

All EU member states implemented ISPM 15 effective March 1, 2005. Debarking has been suspended until January 1, 2009. ISPM 15 marking of dunnage has been delayed until December 31, 2007.



Unlisted WPM Requirements

Please check the APHIS website dedicated to WPM for updates on WTO notifications or contact an APHIS official.

www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/wpm

Contact information is found under Current Export Regulations for Selected Countries and Industry Alert Wood Packaging Materials Notification.



What happens to non-compliant shipments that enter the US?

At the expense of the importer: WPM that does not have the ISPM 15 stamp must be re-exportedWPM that has the ISPM15 stamp but is found to contain a wood boring pest must be re-exportedWPM that has the ISPM 15 stamp but is found with a hitchhiking pest (non wood boring) may be fumigated by APHIS/PPQ



What can Your Business Do to Comply with ISPM 15?

• Ask your WPM provider if they are ISPM 15 compliant and accredited

• Provide information on the ISPM 15 standard

• Give them contact information regarding how to become compliant (websites, contact numbers)

• Do a cost benefit analysis if considering alternatives to wood packaging materials

• Be aware of US and foreign countries’ timelines for implementation

• Realize there is a $ cost $ for noncompliance as of 9/16



PPQ Wood Packaging Materials.htm



Contact Information for sources of compliant WPM or to become an ISPM 15 compliant manufacturer.

The American Lumber Standard Committee Heat Treatment option • Phone number: 301-972-1700• Fax number: 301-540-8004• www.alsc.org

National Wooden Pallet & Container Association MB Fumigation option• Phone number: 703-519-6104 • Fax number: 703-519-4720 • www.nwpca.com

Documents

United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine IPPC International Standard ISPM 15