The International Plant Protection Convention
passed a United Nations treaty governing 118 participating countries on March 15,
2002. Click here to see a list of the participating
countries.
Heat treating (HT) lumber is still the
preferred method of meeting the standards for the future. Kiln drying
(KD), chemical pressure impregnation (CPI) and methyl bromide (MB) are still
accepted methods of treatment, but CPIand KD alone without HT certification does
not comply.
Heat treatment standards now apply to
non-coniferous (hardwood) as well as all species of coniferous (softwood) packaging
materials.
There is no identified timeline for
implementation, however implementation will be left to each country at their own discretion.
The EU and Canada are expected to be the first to
officially implement the standard in late 2002 with others to follow.
Wooden pallets, packaging, and containers are
still the products of choice for international shipping under the new guidelines.
NWPCA along with its membership is working to monitor implementation of the
treaty. The Association has an ongoing relationship with the U.S.
departments of Agriculture and Commerce and are dedicated to facilitating a
balance between pest elimination and an unimpeded international trade.
For your copy of the "International
Standards for Phytosanitary Measures - Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging
Material in International Trade" and the "March 22, 2002 NWPCA
Regulatory Alert", please call or email your Conner sales representative
at (800)543-4893. Click here for a list of
CII salesmen.
This
universal mark replaces all previous international marks.
This
universal mark replaces all previous international marks.