import packaging
Import Health Standard for Wood Packaging Material from All Countries.
The Standard covers all forms of wood used as packaging and or dunnage when used in relation to goods imported into New Zealand.
The revised Standard will come into force on 1 May 2006 however the enforcement of the revised Standard will be phased in over two months. From 1 July 2006 the Standard will be fully enforced.
Details of the Standard can be found on the MAF website at www.biosecurity.govt.nz
download the PDF here
In summary wood packaging is defined as wood or wood products used in material supporting, protecting or carrying a commodity (includes dunnage). This includes items such as dunnage, crates, fillets, spacers, pallets, drums, reels, gluts etc. Thin wood being 6mm or less in thickness is exempt.
Wood packaging made wholly from manufactured board eg plywood, fibreboard, particleboard, veneer and chip board is regulated under the Import Health Standard Wooden Panels from All Countries.
WHAT IS REQUIRED?
ALL wood packaging MUST be treated according to ISPM15 standards and marked with the following mark
XX – Identifies the country code
000 – Identifies the approved treatment providers code
YY – Identifies the type of treatment eg HT Heat Treatment or MB Fumigated
OR wood packaging must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate detailing an approved treatment.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Wood packaging arriving after 1 May 2006 :
1. Will be subject to the new Import Health Standard for Wood Packaging
2. Wood packaging should comply with import requirements
3. MAF will risk profile all consignments and select a subset for inspection
4. Any wood packaging found to be infested with pests will be treated, reshipped or destroyed
5. Wood packaging found to be free of pests may be granted biosecurity clearance
6. MAF Quarantine will tag non-compliant wood packaging with an advisory notice.
Wood packaging arriving AFTER 1 July 2006 :
1. Wood packaging MUST comply with the import requirements
2. MAF will risk profile all consignments and select a subset for selection
3. Any untreated or uncertified wood packaging found will be treated, destroyed, or refused entry, REGARDLESS of whether pests are found
4. A notice of non-compliance will be issued for any untreated or uncertified wood packaging
5. Information from these non-compliances will be used to feedback into the risk profiling system, meaing that importers who develop a history of non-compliance will more frequently be selected for inspection.
AS IMPORTERS WHAT SHOULD YOU DO.
You should immediately notify your suppliers of this wood packaging requirement and the need to have all wood packaging treated to ISPM15 standards.
It is our advice that you should also require a certificate from your supplier to confirm that they have treated the wood packaging to the required ISPM15 standard. If the wood packaging is not ISPM15 treated and branded then the wood packaging will need to be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate detailing an approved treatment.
NOTE – This applies to wood packaging whether in full container loads (FCL) Less than container loads (LCL) or Breakbulk.
The Container Quarantine Declaration form is still required for all FCL shipments.
This action should be taken immediately as the phase in period (2 months) is very short considering the USA and European Union adopted a much longer phase in education/compliance period.
The revised Health Standard does not detail fees applicable for inspections, pest identification or treatment monitoring. The fees are contained in the Biosecurity (Costs) Regulations 2003. These Regulations are currently under review with a new Fee structure due to be implemented from 1 July 2006.
Enquiries can be directed to David McAllister at Advance International Ltd, tel 03 214-1009.
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