IPPC International Standard ISPM 15

1. IPPC International StandardISPM 15 Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material (WPM) in the Transport of Commodities

2. 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

3. Purpose: International Standards Harmonize requirements between signatory countries Each member country still has to draft and implement their own regulation.

4. National Standards National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is recognized as the NPPO for the United States of America

5. Specific Components of the Wood Packing Material Standard: Products affected by International Standard include unprocessed raw wood (hardwood/softwood) packaging including dunnage

6. 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.

7. Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard Treatment/Processing Options: • Heat Treatment (HT) and Fumigation withMethyl 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

8. 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 bebark free.

9. 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

10. Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard Marking for Approved Measures (HT & MB) XX - 000 HT or MB 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.

11. Organization of HT Program American Lumber Standard Committee USDA APHIS PPQ 17 Inspection Agencies Over 3400 Enrolled Manufacturers

12. 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.”

13. 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

14. 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 • 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

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. International IPPC Stamps

19. NAPPO Countries • United States of America • Canada • Mexico http://www.nappo.org/Standards/Woodpacking-bil1.htm

20. 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.

21. 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

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

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. At the expense of the importer: • WPM that does not have the ISPM 15 stamp must be re-exported • WPM that has the ISPM15 stamp but is found to contain a wood boring pest must be re-exported • WPM that has the ISPM 15 stamp but is found with a hitchhiking pest (non wood boring) may be fumigated by APHIS/PPQ What happens to non-compliant shipments that enter the US?

26. 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

28. 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