***REMOVAL OF THE EXCEMPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES NO. 15 (ISPM 15) FOR NON MANUFACTURED WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL (WPM) MOVING BETWEEN CANADA & THE U.S.***

In March 2002, the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention endorsed a standard prescribing uniform regulatory control of wood packaging materials (WPM) moving in international commerce.

Standard known as ISPM No. 15, recognizes the inherent pest risks associated with the international movement of untreated wood  packaging materials. Many exotic plant pests have been intercepted on wood dunnage, pallets, crating or other wood related packaging materials.

Until now, non manufactured WPM originating from Canada or the U.S. and used exclusively in trade between the two countries has been exempt from the ISPM No. 15 requirements.

However, a growing number of harmful pests have become a concern for the environment in both countries, spurring the removal of this exemption. In the coming months, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will be providing more information on the new ISPM No. 15 requirements up to January 2013, when full implementation and enforcement activities commence.

Shippers on both sides of the border need to get on board quickly with these new changes, as this will affect all those who are currently using non regulated wooden pallets to ship their goods across North America. As such, this will add additional costs for shippers to conform or risk hefty fines or red flags at border crossings.

We will update progress of this new legislation as information become available.

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