ISPM 15 Compliance Requirements
Posted on Dec 21 2005 at 9:25 AM
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ISPM 15 Compliance Requirements to Australia for Air and Break Bulk Cargo

Expansion of Implementation of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) # 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (ISPM 15) to Air and Break Bulk Cargo to Cover All Wood Packing and Dunnage for Imports into Australia.

 On 1 January 2006, Australia will expand the implementation of the international standard for solid wood packing and dunnage - the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) # 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (ISPM 15) to air and break bulk cargo to cover all solid wood packing and dunnage.

 Purpose

 This notice is to provide information about the approach AQIS is taking in implementing ISPM 15 for air and break bulk cargo.

CHANGES IN EFFECT FROM 1 January 2006

ISPM 15 Compliant Wood Packaging

From 1 January 2006, AQIS will require mandatory compliance with ISPM 15 for solid wood packaging and dunnage used in supporting, protecting or carrying break bulk and air cargo imported into Australia. In the event of non-compliance, the timber will be treated, destroyed or re-exported.

 AQIS will continue to accept packaging which meets existing non ISPM 15 AQIS requirements for containerised cargo only. Inspection will no longer be offered as an option for any imported wood packing and/or dunnage regardless of the mode of transport.

For AQIS purposes, ISPM 15 compliant wood packaging:

 ·        Will not require a treatment certificate. For break bulk and air cargo there will be no requirement to present additional documentation regarding the treatment of timber packing. Instead, the current break bulk and air cargo surveillance programs will be modified to monitor compliance.

 ·        Will not need to satisfy the AQIS 21 day rule. There is no limitation on time between treatment and shipping.

Wood Packing Materials

 Glossary of Terms for Wood Packing Materials:

ISPM-15: International Standards for Phytosanitary Measure 15. The standard approved by WTO for participating countries to implement that requires softwood and hardwood packaging to be heat treated or fumigated to kill insects or fungus prior to export. The participating countries require that the wood undergo heat treatment or fumigation and be stamped with the ALSC stamp. The company that is treating the wood will put their own stamp on the wood; therefore the number (ex 555) will change.  Example of ALSC stamp

 The four options below are currently available for exporters under ISPM-15. Heat Treatment along with limited fumigation are the only universal standards for solid wood listed in the ISPM-15 regulations.

1.       Heat Treatment

2.       Fumigated Treatment

3.       Manufactured Wood Packaging

4.       Plastic or Cardboard

APHIS: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, part of USDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Responsible for protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, administering Animal Welfare Act.

 Bark-Free Wood: Wood from which all bark, excluding the vascular cambium, ingrown bark around knots and bark pockets between rings of annual growth has been removed.

 Coniferous Wood: Conifer wood is wood that comes from predominately evergreen, cone-bearing trees, such as pine, spruce, hemlock or fir.

 Debarking (DB): Removal of bark from round wood (debarking does not necessarily make the wood bark-free)

 Dunnage: Material placed around cargo to prevent damage or breakage by preventing movement. Example is blocking and bracing materials.

Fumigation (FT):  Treatment with an approved chemical agent that reaches the commodity wholly or primarily in a gaseous state. Fumigation treatment is allowed only on a country by country basis. In the US, the EPA is phasing out Methyl Bromide as a chemical fumigant.

 Heat Treatment (HT): The process in which a commodity is heated until it reaches a minimum temperature for a minimum period of time according to an officially recognized technical specification. Heated to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius (133F) for 30 minutes.

 Kiln-Drying (KD): A process in which wood is dried in a closed chamber using heat and/or humidity control to achieve required moisture content.

Mark: An official stamp or brand, internationally recognized, applied to a regulated article to attest to its Phytosanitary status, such as the stamp shown for ISPM-15.

Processed wood material: Products that are a composite of wood constructed using glue, heat and pressure or any combination thereof, no solid wood. Manufactured wood does not need any certification under ISPM-15 and EU since the heat used in manufacturing process exceeds ISPM-15 standards. Examples are plywood, oriented strand board.

Raw wood: Wood which has not undergone processing or treatment.

WPM: Wood Packing Materials. Wood or wood products (excluding paper products) used in supporting, protecting or carrying a commodity. Including, but not limited to, dunnage, crating, pallets, packing blocks, drums, cases, spools and skids.

WTO: World Trade Organization. Consists of below listed countries. Any of these countries may chose to participate in the ISPM-15 requirement. If they are not a participant as of yet, they may in the future chose to implement the ISPM-15 requirement with due notification.