US applies strict rules to keep pests out of packaging

US’s new standards on wood packaging materials will spell difficulties to Vietnamese exporters who use the materials frequently in international trades

On August 1, the Vietnamese commercial attaché in the US warned Vietnamese exporters about new standards for wood packaging materials for export cargos starting September 16, 2005 .

Last year, the US Department of Agriculture announced the adoption into law of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15 ) on wood packaging materials (WPM) used in import and export. The new law will take effect on September 16, 2005 .

ISPM 15 requires WPM to undergo either heat treatment to a minimum temperature of 56 degrees celsius for 30 minutes or fumigation with methyl bromide to eliminate pests.

Under the new law, a number of treatment marks must be shown on cargo, including the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) symbol as per Annex II of the ISPM 15, the International Standard Organization (ISO) two-letter country code for the country that produced the WPM, the unique number assigned by the national plant protection agency of the country to the producer of the WPM, an abbreviation disclosing the type of treatment (“HT” for heat treatment or “MB” for methyl bromide). The process certificate is not required.

The treatment and marking requirements will be applied to such WPM as pallets, crating, dunnage, packing blocks, drums, cases and skids. Exemptions include dunnage thinner than 6mm and other wood-based products using heat and pressure processes such as plywood, particleboard, and oriented strand board.

US plant protection authorities can order an immediate re-export of non-compliant wood packaging or have it treated or destroyed at the importer’s expense. The authority may also treat a non-compliant container and mark it with an IPPC symbol if the port’s infrastructure and technology allow the dismantling of the container without introducing a pest. 

If the containers are unable to be dismantled, they must be disposed of together with the goods inside. If they are unable to be disposed of, they will be returned to the port of origin with the goods inside.

Such requirements are already in effect in China and Hong Kong , burdening exporters there with the high cost of research into new packaging materials and heat treatment/fumigation processes.

From September 16, the US will apply the same standards to more countries, including Vietnam . As wood is a common packing material in Vietnamese exports, Analysts have warned that Vietnam will have to seek methods of meeting the new requirements to avoid trade losses.

(Source: VietNamNet )