TIMBER PRODUCTS September 2022 HT Newsletter Volume: 09/06/2022

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Season is Here

The Australian Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season is here.  The season lasts from September 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.  During this time, many products going to Australia require fumigation prior to leaving the U.S.  This has nothing to do with wood packaging and the IPPC program, but it affects many WPM clients as it applies to what is being shipped in or on their manufactured and IPPC marked wood packaging.  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, so the mark does not mean that the wood packaging has been treated for BMSB.

Canada Bound WPM Review   

 In 2005, an exemption was established for the movement of wood packaging material (WPM) from the U.S. to Canada.  According to the USDA's Director of Forest Products, this standard works conversely between the two countries and for review, the exemption specifies in part:

• All WPM entering or transiting Canada except wood of 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.)

On Repaired WPM:

• Repaired WPM not of U.S. origin will need to be treated and IPPC marked to legally gain entry into Canada from the U.S. 
• Companies trying to send repaired WPM with obliteration marks into Canada will need to have enough knowledge of the wood origin to convince Canadian Customs it is 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.
• 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.

It is important that facilities and their customers are aware of this standard in order to avoid costly delays at the border and potential legal issues.