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TIMBER PRODUCTS October 2019 HT Newsletter Volume: 10/10/2019
Online Newsletter
Matt McGowan - WPM Program Manager
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
Office: 770.785.4769
Mobile: 678.480.2451
Mobile: 678.480.2451
For more information on the IPPC program
Please contact:
Matt McGowan
WPM Program Manager
Peachtree City GA
Office 770.785.4769
Mobile 678.480.2451
The unauthorized and/or fraudulent use of the TP IPPC mark is illegal and a situation we take seriously. Anyone with information regarding the misuse of IPPC marks should contact TP's WPM Manager immediately. Thank you for helping to protect the integrity of the ISPM 15 program which is vital to our business and economy.
Moving?
When a facility moves from one location to another it is very important to notify our office of your plans as soon as possible. This is needed so we can ensure that there is no interruption in service to the facility. Agencies are required to make a minimum of 12 visits per year at each location participating in the IPPC program and it is critical our inspectors are aware of any location changes for this to occur. Please place this notification on your to-do list when preparing to change locations.
Great "Yogisms"
"Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical."
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore."
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
"You should always go to other people's funerals; otherwise, they won't come to yours."
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did."
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Season is Here
The Australian Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season is upon us. The season lasts from September 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020. During this time, most products going to Australia require fumigation prior to leaving the U.S. This has nothing to do with WPM and the ISPM 15 program, but it affects many WPM clients as it applies to what is being shipped in or on their manufactured and IPPC marked WPM. Make certain to be aware of the fumigation requirements for shipments going to Australia during this time to avoid any costly corrections required by Australian Customs due to lack of proper treatment. Also, be aware that BMSB is not covered under ISPM 15 and so the mark is not meant to show that the WPM has been treated for BMSB.
Update on U.S. Canadian Bilateral Agreement
In 2005, an exemption was established for the movement of wood packaging material (WPM) from the U.S. to Canada. In speaking with Tyrone Jones, USDA Director of Forest Products, this standard works conversely between the two countries. At this time, there is no change of status related to the ending of the bi-lateral agreement for WPM between the U.S. and Canada. Currently, there are no requirements that WPM of Continental U.S. origin be IPPC marked when crossing into Canada.
For review, the exemption specifies in part:
- All WPM entering or transiting Canada except wood of Continental U.S. origin entering from the U.S., must be heat treated or fumigated and be marked with an approved logo (IPPC Mark) certifying that it has been treated.
- Shipments containing non-compliant WPM will not be allowed to enter Canada.
- This exemption applies only to the “Continental United States”. Wood from Hawaii and U.S. territories is not included in the exemption.
The exemption applies to both WPM shipping as a commodity and WPM bearing product. In some situations, a declaration is required to document the origin of the wood used to build the WPM as being sourced from the Continental United States.
A declaration is not required on:
- ISPM 15 conforming WPM with all material having proper IPPC marks (U.S. or foreign).
A declaration is required on:
- WPM constructed from wood of Continental U.S. origin with no marks.
- ISPM 15 conforming WPM with foreign IPPC markings shipped along with unmarked WPM constructed from wood of Continental U.S. origin. (Without this declaration, the unmarked pallets will be considered not of U.S. origin and denied entry into Canada.)
The paperwork for WPM not having an IPPC mark should clearly declare that:
"WPM on this shipment is of Continental U.S. origin".
If this declaration is not stated on the paperwork, the shipment can be held up at the border since there is no written verification as to the origin of the unmarked WPM.
On Repaired WPM:
- Repaired WPM not of Continental U.S. origin will need to be treated and IPPC marked to legally gain entry into Canada from the U.S. Repair facilities must take extra care since any repairs done using components from foreign pallets disqualifies those repaired pallets from shipping to Canada unless they are treated and IPPC marked since the components used to make repairs were not of Continental U.S. origin.
- Companies trying to send repaired WPM with obliterated marks into Canada will need to have enough knowledge of the wood origin to convince Canadian Customs it is Continental U.S. or Canadian sourced. Since this will be almost impossible with properly obliterated marks, it will be best to treat and remark the WPM. Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) will look for marks that provide evidence of non-U.S. origin wood in the repaired WPM and can legally hold or re-export the load back to the U.S. as a result of foreign wood being identified in the untreated pallets.
- Repaired and untreated WPM with obliterated marks attempting entry into Canada could be considered a sign of fraud by Canadian Customs even with a declaration and entry may be denied if there is evidence of foreign wood being present.
It is important that facilities and their customers are aware of this standard in order to avoid costly delays at the border and potential loss of business.
With the current adminstration in place in Washington, there are no foreseeable changes in this agreement for the future.