Official ISPM-15 Changes Announced
By Chaille Brindley
Date Posted: 5/1/2009
International leaders recently approved changes to ISPM-15, the global standard for treating wood packaging. This standard has become the defacto guidelines for wood packaging, especially wood pallets and dunnage used for international transit.
The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which oversees the standard, recently released its official report. Changes to the standard include a new bark requirement and changes to the mark itself as well as new guidelines for repaired pallets.
The CPM approved the same bark requirements that the European Union adopted earlier this year. The new rules limit bark to individual pieces that are either less than 3 cm in width (regardless of length) or if greater than 3 cm in width, not more than 50cm2 in area. While it is estimated that 80% or more of the packaging made under the ISPM-15 program in the U.S. already complies with the new requirements, bark will become an issue for some pallet companies.
Effective July 1, the EU had indicated it will start rejecting loads that are not compliant with the new bark rules. Shippers sending products to the EU must be aware of these restrictions and should request packaging that will not trigger a reaction by import officials within the EU member states.
The CPM allows each member country the freedom to decide the implementation timeline for rule changes. Technically, ISPM-15 now requires the bark limitations stipulated above. But most countries will provide adequate time for shippers to comply so as to reduce hardships on international freight shipments.
The American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC), which oversees the U.S. heat treating program, has suggested that its certification agencies implement the new changes as quickly as possible. Readers will want to contact their certification agency because implementation guidelines and time frames may differ.
Although CPM has developed a new definition for repaired packaging (1/3rd or less of the boards replaced on a unit), but this will not be a major issue for U.S. companies. ALSC is requiring a stricter guideline than what some other countries are mandating. ALSC is requiring that all repaired packaging in its program have any previous marks removed, be completely re-treated and re-marked in compliance with ISPM-15. Simply repairing with heat treated boards is not acceptable except in special circumstances, which must be approved in advance by an ALSC accredited agency. One example of a situation that may receive an exception is a large crate carrying a load that gets damaged in transit. Instead of removing the load and disrupting shipment, the crate can be repaired with compliant lumber and sent on its way.
Pallet companies within the program are required to remove marks for any packaging they repair or remanufacture if it is destined for domestic use. If the pallet is repaired/remanufactured using green ash from a quarantine state, the entire packaging must be re-treated and re-marked. Keep in mind that whenever a pallet company re-treats packaging the old marks should be removed unless the mark on the packaging.
According to the ALSC, there have been a few slight changes to the official mark regarding the placement of the certification agency logo. ISPM-15 now requires for the agency logo and “Dunnage” if so labeled to be outside the border of the mark. The ASLC commented that “as new stamps are ordered, the new format should be adopted so that transition to the new stamp format takes place in an orderly fashion.”
The critical thing for shippers is to work with a pallet/packaing supplier that is part of the official heat treat or fumigation programs. This will likely ensure that the pallets/packaging you receive is truly export ready. Of course, you could also use material other than wood. But this might prove costly and unnecessary for many products.
The only way to know for sure is to ask your supplier if they are certified and with agency. You can then call the agency to verify the information given by the supplier. If you receive "export certified" pallets with a significant amount of bark on the lumber, you can reject the load and demand pallets that meet the new rules.
