Australia UK exporters are advised that the Australian Quarantine requirements prohibit the entry of wood products infected with non indigenous bluestain. It should be noted that treatment in accordance with ISPM 15 specifications is not lethal to bluestain fungi, and in fact heat treatment in the absence of moisture reduction is likely to increase susceptibility to infection.


Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Exports to China
Issues over the 'Re-Use' of Wood Packaging Material

At the end of June we advised UKWPMMP members of an issue in China whereby AQSIQ inspectors were intercepting consignments from Europe because articles of wood packaging material were being found to have country ISO codes within ISPM15 marks that did not relate to the country of re-export. The example given involved a German 'DE' marked pallet which had been air-freighted to China from Austria (AT) and therefore it was deemed to be non-complaint.


Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Indonesia - implemented ISPM No 15 in September 2009. To view details of the original notification dated 29 May 2006 and addendum of April 2009 confirming the date of implementation and other details (including contact details for queries). To view updated notification dated 5 March 2010.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Emergency measures to prevent the spread of Pine Wood Nematode from Portugal

Controls apply to the export from Portugal of conifer wood products, including logs, sawn wood, chips, bark and wood packaging material such as boxes, crates pallets and the like which originated there. These are set out in Commission Decision 2006/133/EC and its various amendments (link ex.europa.eu PDF ). Wood Packaging Material (WPM) manufactured in Portugal from conifer wood has had to meet the requirements of ISPM 15, the international phytosanitary standard covering WPM which demands that it be treated (or fumigated with Methyl bromide) and stamped with the ISPM 15 mark which shows the country of production, a unique producer code and the code for the treatment used i.e. "HT" or "MB".

Despite these measures, many Member States have reported detecting PWN in WPM arriving from Portugal, sometimes on unmarked WPM so it has not been possible to tell where it was made, and in order to avoid the possibility that untreated Portuguese WPM 'slips thorough the net' the rules have been further amended. From 16 June 2009 all WPM made from conifer wood exported from Portugal will need to meet ISPM 15 requirements. This includes WPM made from conifer wood imported into Portugal from the other Member States and then re-used for subsequent exports.

Although there is no legal obligation to use ISPM15 compliant WPM for goods shipped into Portugal from any other Member State, we strongly advise exporters in the UK to consider using treated and ISPM 15 marked WPM, regardless of wood type, wherever possible so as to ensure that there are no delays in delivering goods. This will be particularly important where the consignor expects to have the WPM returned, either empty or used to carry other goods. Many importers in Portugal are expected to demand the use of ISPM 15 WPM by their suppliers, so as to avoid the need to otherwise dispose of and replace WPM for subsequent use. The Portuguese authorities have confirmed that they do not have sufficient heat treatment capacity to deal with untreated imported WPM, and destruction appears to be the only alternative. Our advice covers all WPM regardless of wood type because of the difficulty in determining wood species, especially where more than one species is used in the manufacture of WPM. In cases of doubt, we can expect at least a delay in shipping while checks are carried out. This may well lead to increased costs.

Under the new procedures, all Member States will now be required to carry out routine checks on wood and wood packaging material imported into their country from Portugal. These checks can be carried out at any place where the material may be present and not necessarily confined to the point of entry (port or airport). The Forestry Commission plans to continue with spot checks on some goods as they arrive, where practicable, and will also be visiting importers to check on WPM used to ship goods from Portugal. We already carry out spot checks on wood shipped from Portugal. We do not, however, plan to place unnecessary burdens on business and will not, for example, be imposing inspection fees as we do for imports from non-EU countries. In the event that non-compliant wood or WPM is found, the occupier of the premises or the person in charge of the material will, however, be responsible for any remedial action deemed necessary. Those placing orders with Portuguese suppliers are strongly advised to make it a contractual requirement that only ISPM 15 compliant WPM is used and binding suppliers to meet any costs arising out of a failure to do so. The European Commission has also indicated that it plans to propose extending the use of ISPM15 to regulate WPM used in all intra-Community trade. This is subject to negotiations with the wood packaging industry which currently does not have sufficient treatment capacity across the EU to meet such a demand.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Colombia

Colombia has implemented ISPM15 via Resolution No. 01074. (Updated 24 September 2008)

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Cuba

Cuba has announced its intention to implement ISPM15 on 1st October 2008. To view notification.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Norway

Norway has now announced its intention to implement ISPM15 on the 1st July 2008 (this was set to be on the 1st January 2008).

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Norway

has announced its intention to implement ISPM15 1st January 2008.  To view WTO notification. (Update 27 July 2007)

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Brazil

has confirmed that it will accept wood packaging material with the IPPC mark as the phytosanitary certification.  To see correspondence from the Embassy of Brazil.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Guyana
The relevant authority has advised that it has implemented ISPM15. Unfortunately we are unable to publish any official document as the notification was made by email to the Forestry Commission.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Syria
The relevant authority has advised that it has implemented ISPM15. Unfortunately we are unable to publish any official document as the notification was made by email to the Forestry Commission.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Japan has announced that it will implement ISPM15 on 1 April 2007. To view the WTO notification.  To view details in MAFF Notification No. 1352.  Further information can be viewed on Japan's website.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Oman has announced its intention to implement ISPM15 in December 2006.  To view WTO notification.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Brazil has notified that it has withdrawn implementation of requirements based on ISPM15 and has reverted, with immediate effect, to its previous 2004 legislation. No reasons have been given and it is not known whether this is a permanent position. To view their announcement (in Portuguese only).

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic - implemented ISPM15 on 1 July 2006. To view notification (in Spanish).

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Ecuador
Ecuador has announced its implement of ISPM15 with effect from 1 July 2006. See details of Resolution (in Spanish).

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Ukraine
Ukraine has implemented ISPM15 as an import requirement, with the addition of debarking and confirm that all WPM produced under the UKWPMMP meets their requirements; to see notification.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

Brazil
We have been advised that Brazil has now implemented, with immediate effect, import requirements for wood packaging material based on ISPM 15 . Note Details of the Brazilian requirements can be viewed (in Spanish) (Last updated 16th May 2006).

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)

New Zealand
New Zealand implemented ISPM15 on 16 April 2006. It has however recently consulted on changes to the Import Health Standard Wood Packaging Materials from All Countries. We have been advised that the new standard will come into effect on 1 May 2006.

Full Current ISPM15 Guide (click here)