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ISPM No. 15

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ON PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 

REGULATION OF WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

ispm 15 2019

International Standards on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) are prepared by the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention as part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's worldwide policy and technical assistance program on plant quarantine.

Standards on phytosanitary measures (ISPM) are adopted by the Contracting PartiesIPPCand FAO members who are not Contracting Parties, through the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. ISPM are standards, guidelines and recommendations recognized as the basis for phytosanitary measures applied by members of the World Trade Organization under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. Countries that are not Contracting Parties to the IPPC are encouraged to comply with these standards.

This standard was first adopted at the fourth session of the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002 under the title Guidelines for the Regulation of Wood Packaging Materials in International Trade.

Amendments to Annex 1 were adopted at the first session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in April 2006. The first revised version was adopted at the fourth session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March-April 2009 as this standard, ISPM 15. The revised version of Annex 1 with the corresponding changes in Annex 2 was adopted at the 8th session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in April 2013.

This standard describes phytosanitary measures that reduce the risk of introduction and spread of quarantine pests carried in the process of international trade with wood packaging material made from untreated wood. The wood packaging material covered by this standard includes fastening wood, but does not include wooden containers made of wood processed in such a way that it is free from harmful organisms (for example, glued plywood). The phytosanitary measures described in this standard are not intended to permanently protect against clogging pests or other organisms.

It is known that harmful organisms associated with wood packaging material have a negative impact on forest health and biological diversity. The application of this standard will significantly reduce the spread of harmful organisms and, consequently, to weaken their negative impact.Processingmethyl bromide is included in this standard in case there are no alternative treatments available only in certain situations or not for all countries, or there are no other suitable (non-wood) packaging materials. Due to the fact that methyl bromide depletes the ozone layer, the CPM Recommendation was adopted to replace or reduce the Use of methyl bromide as a phytosanitary measure (CPM, 2008). The search for alternative measures that have a more sparing impact on the environment continues.

Wood packaging materialsfrom unprocessed wood, they represent a pathway for the introduction and spread of harmful organisms.Since the origin of wood packaging materials is often difficult to determine, internationally adopted measures are described to significantly reduce the risk of the spread of harmful organisms.NPPOit is recommended to accept wood packaging materials to which approved measures have been applied, without additional requirements. Such wood packaging materials include fastening wood, but do not include recycled wood packaging materials.

Procedures for verifying whether an approved measure has been applied, including the use of internationally recognized labeling, should be involved in both the exporting and importing country. Other measures on which a bilateral agreement has been reached are also considered in this standard. If the wood packaging materials do not meet the requirements of this standard, the NPPO can neutralize them in an approved way.

Definitions of phytosanitary terms used in the ISPM 15 standard can be read on the page (Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms).

Approved phytosanitary measures, which significantly reduce the risk of introduction and spread of harmful organisms with wood packaging material, provide for the use of stripped wood (with established tolerances for bark residues) and the use of approved treatments (prescribed in Annex 1). The use of identification markings (prescribed in Annex 2) provides easy identification of wood packaging material subjected to approved treatments. Descriptions of approved treatments, labeling and its use are given.

The national Plant protection and Quarantine Organizations (NPPOs) of exporting and importing countries have specific obligations. Processing and marking should always be the responsibility of the NPPO. Those authorizing the use of labeling should supervise the processing, the use of labeling and its application by the relevant manufacturers or processing structures (or, at a minimum, conduct an audit oranalysis), and should also establish the procedure for inspection or monitoring and auditing.

Special requirements are imposed on repaired or converted wood packaging material. The NPPOs of importing countries should consider the approved phytosanitary measures as the basis for allowing the import of wood packaging material without additional phytosanitary import requirements concerning wood packaging material, and may also check on import whether it meets the requirements of this standard. If the wood packaging material does not meet the requirements of this standard, the NPPO is also responsible for the measures taken and, where appropriate, for notification of non-compliance.

1. Regulatory framework

Wood obtained from living trees or dead wood, may be infected with harmful organisms. Wood packaging material is often made from fresh wood that has not been processed or processed sufficiently to remove or destroy harmful organisms, and therefore remains a pathway for the introduction and spread of quarantine pests. It has been proven that fastening wood poses a particularly high risk of introduction and spread of quarantine pests. Moreover, wood packaging material is very often reused, repaired or remade (as described in section 4.3).

It can be difficult to determine the true origin of different parts of the wood packaging material, which makes it difficult to establish their phytosanitary status. Therefore, with regard to wood packaging material, it is often impossible to conduct a routine analysis of phytosanitary risk in order to determine the need for phytosanitary measures and their scope.. For this reason, this standard describes internationally accepted measures that can be applied to wood packaging material by all countries in order to significantly reduce the risk of introduction and spread of most quarantine pests that may be associated with this material.

2. Adjustable wood packaging material

This guide applies to all forms of wood packaging material that can serve as a means of spreading harmful organisms that pose a risk mainly to living trees. This includes such wood packaging material as crates, crates, packing boxes, fastening wood, pallets, cable drums and coils/bobbins, which can be found in almost any imported cargo, including those that are not normally subject to phytosanitary inspection.

2.1 Exceptions

The following materials pose a fairly low risk, and for this reason they were not covered by this standard:

  • wood packaging material made entirely of thin wood (not more than 6 mm thick);
  • wooden containers made entirely of recycled wood material, such as laminated plywood, chipboard, oriented chipboard or veneer, which was made using glue, heating and pressure, or a combination of these methods;
  • barrels for wine and alcoholic beverages that were heated during the manufacturing process;
  • gift boxes for wine, cigars and other goods made of wood that has been processed and/or manufactured in a way that excludes the possibility of infection with harmful organisms;
  • sawdust, wood shavings and wood wool;
  • wooden structural elements permanently attached to trucks and containers.

3. Phytosanitary measures for wood packaging material

This standard sets out the phytosanitary measures (including treatment) that have been approved for wood packaging material and provides for the approval of new or revised treatments.

3.1 Approved phytosanitary measures

The approved phytosanitary measures described in this standard consist of phytosanitary procedures, including the processing and labeling of wood packaging material. The use of labeling eliminates the need to use a phytosanitary certificate, since it indicates the application of internationally recognized phytosanitary measures. All NPPOs should consider these phytosanitary measures as the basis for allowing the import of wood packaging material without special additional requirements. Phytosanitary measures other than the approved measures described in this standard require technical justification.
The treatments described in Annex 1 are considered to be reliably effective against most organisms harmful to living trees associated with wood packaging material used in international trade. These treatments are combined with the use of decimated wood in the manufacture of wooden containers, which also helps to reduce the likelihood of re-infection with organisms harmful to living trees. These measures were approved on the basis of consideration:

  • the spectrum of harmful organisms against which they are directed;
  • processing efficiency;
  • technical and/or commercial feasibility.

There are three main actions in the production of approved wood packaging material (including fastening wood):processing, manufacturing andmarking. These actions can be performed by different performers, or one performer can perform several or all of these actions. To facilitate understanding, this standard is addressed to manufacturers (those who manufacture wood packaging material and can label appropriately treated wood packaging material) and those who carry out treatments (those who carry out approved treatments and can label appropriately treated wood packaging material).

The wood packaging material subjected to these approved measures shall be marked by official marking in accordance with Annex 2. This marking consists of a special symbol used together with codes indicating the specific country, the responsible manufacturer or the organization that carried out the processing and the type of processing carried out. Further in the text, the totality of all components of such a designation is referred to as "marking". Internationally recognized marking, which is not tied to a specific language, facilitates the process of recognizing processed wood packaging material when viewed before export, at import points and in other places.

The NPPO should consider this marking, as specified in Annex 2, as the basis for allowing the import of wood packaging material without additional special requirements.
For the manufacture of wood packaging material, the debarked wood must be used, which has also undergone one of the approved treatments specified in Annex 1. The tolerances for bark residues are set in Annex 1.

3.2 Approval of new or revised treatments

As new technical information becomes available, existing treatments may be reviewed and modified, and the CPM may approve new alternative treatments and/or treatment scheme(s) for wood packaging material. ISPM 28:2007 provides guidance on the IPPC treatment approval process. If any new processing or revised processing scheme for wood packaging material is approved and included, then the material already processed according to the conditions of the previously approved processing and/or scheme will not need to be re-processed or re-labeled.

3.3 Alternative bilateral agreements

In addition to the measures specified in Annex 1, the NPPO may recognize other measures through the conclusion of bilateral agreements with its trading partners. In such cases, the marking given in Annex 2 should not be used unless all the requirements of this standard are met.

4. Responsibility of the NPPO

In order to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful organisms, exporting and importing Contracting Parties and their NPPOs undertake certain obligations (as specified in articles I, IV and VII of the IPPC). The following are specific obligations in connection with the application of this standard.

4.1 Regulatory issues

The processing and marking (and/or related systems) should always fall within the scope of the NPPO's competence. The NPPOs authorizing the use of this marking are responsible for ensuring that all systems authorized and approved for the implementation of this standard comply with all the necessary requirements set out in this standard, as well as for ensuring that the wood packaging material (or wood from which the wood packaging material is intended to be manufactured) that has the marking is processed and/or manufactured in accordance with this standard. The responsibilities of the NPPO include:

  • authorization, registration and accreditation, as appropriate;
  • control of processing and marking systems carried out for conformity verification (additional information regarding related responsibilities is provided in ISPM 7:1997);
  • inspection, establishment of verification procedures and, if necessary, audit (additional information is provided in ISPM 23:2005).

The NPPO should supervise (or, at a minimum, audit or analyze) the processing, as well as give permission for the use and marking, as appropriate. The processing must be carried out before the marking is applied in order to prevent the presence of markings on unsatisfactorily or incorrectly processed wood packaging material.

4.2 Application and use of marking

The established types of marking applied to wood packaging material processed in accordance with this standard must comply with the requirements set out in Annex 2.

4.3 Processing and labeling requirements for recycled, repaired or remade wood packaging material

The NPPOs of countries where wood packaging material bearing the markings described in Annex 2 is being repaired or redesigned are responsible for ensuring full compliance with this standard of systems related to the export of such wood packaging material, as well as for monitoring this compliance.

4.3.1 Reuse of wood packaging material

A unit of wood packaging material processed and labeled in accordance with this standard, which has not been repaired, altered or otherwise modified, does not require re-processing or labeling throughout the entire period of use of this unit.

4.3.2 Repaired wood packaging material

A repaired wood packaging material is considered to be a wood packaging material in which up to one third of the elements have been removed and replaced. In the event that the marked wood packaging material needs to be repaired, the NPPO should ensure that only wood treated in accordance with this standard, or wooden products made from treated wood are used for this repair (see section 2.1). If treated wood is used for repairs, then each added element must be marked separately in accordance with this standard.

The presence of several markings on the wood packaging material can create problems in determining the origin of this wood packaging material if harmful organisms are found in it. It is recommended that the NPPOs of countries where wood packaging material is being repaired limit the number of different markings that can appear on one unit of wood packaging material. In this regard, the NPPOs of countries where wood packaging material is being repaired may require that the previous markings be erased on the repaired wood packaging material, the unit be re-processed in accordance with Annex 1, and then marked in accordance with Annex 2. If methyl bromide is used for re-processing, then consideration should be given to The information contained in the CPM Recommendation to Replace or Reduce the Use of methyl bromide as a phytosanitary Measure has been adopted (CPM, 2008).

If there is doubt that all elements of a unit of repaired wood packaging material have been processed in accordance with this standard, or the origin of this unit of wood packaging material or its components is difficult to establish, the NPPO of the countries where the wood packaging material is repaired should require that this repaired wood packaging material be re-processed, destroyed or otherwise thus, it was not allowed to be moved in the course of international trade as a wood packaging material conforming to this standard. In case of repeated processing, all previously applied markings must be permanently destroyed (for example, by painting over or removing). After re-processing, the marking must be applied anew in accordance with this standard.

4.3.3 Converted wood packaging material

If more than one third of the elements of a unit of wood packaging material have been replaced, then this unit is considered to be converted. During this process, various elements (with additional modification if necessary) can be combined and then reassembled into wood packaging material for its future use. As a result, the converted wood packaging material may include both new and previously used elements.
Any previously applied markings on the converted wood packaging material must be permanently destroyed (for example, by painting over or removing). The converted wood packaging material must be re-processed, after which the marking must be applied anew in accordance with this standard.

If goods transported in transit contain wood packaging material that does not meet the requirements of this standard, the NPPO of the transit countries have the right to require the application of measures designed to ensure that there is no unacceptable risk from this wood packaging material. More detailed instructions on the organization of transit are given in ISPM 25:2006.

4.5 Import procedures

Since wood packaging materials are present in most shipments, including those that are not normally subject to phytosanitary control by themselves, it is important for the NPPO to cooperate with organizations that are not usually associated with verifying compliance with phytosanitary import requirements. For example, cooperation with customs services and other interested agencies and organizations will help the NPPO to obtain information on the availability of wood packaging material. This is important to ensure effective detection of cases of possible non-compliance of wood packaging material with the requirements of this standard.

4.6 Phytosanitary measures at the point of entry in case of non-compliance with the requirements

Relevant information regarding nonconformity and emergency action is contained in sections 5.1.6.1 to 5.1.6.3 of ISPM 20:2004 and in ISPM 13:2001. Taking into account the frequent reuse of wood packaging material, the NPPO should take into account that the identified nonconformity may occur rather in the country of production, repair or alteration than in the exporting or transit country.

In the event that the wood packaging material does not have the required labeling, or the identification of harmful organisms indicates the possible inefficiency of the treatment carried out, the NPPO should respond accordingly and, if necessary, can be takenemergency action. Such an action may be the delay of the cargo when the situation is clarified, then, if necessary, the removal of inappropriate material, processing 3,destruction(or other reliable disposal) or transshipment. Additional examples of acceptable options are given in Appendix 1. With respect to any emergency action taken, the principle of minimal impact must be observed, while the consignment itself should be distinguished from the wood packaging material accompanying the consignment. In addition, if an emergency action is needed and the NPPO uses methyl bromide, then the relevant aspects of the CPM Recommendation to Replace or Reduce the Use of Methyl Bromide as a Phytosanitary Measure should be followed (CPM, 2008).

In cases of detection of live harmful organisms, the NPPO of the importing country should notify the exporting country or, if possible, the producing country accordingly. In cases where a unit of wood packaging material has more than one marking, the NPPO should attempt to determine the origin of the non-compliant components before sending a notification of non-compliance. It is also welcome to send notifications to the NPPO in cases of non-marking and other cases of non-compliance. Taking into account the provisions of section 4.3.2, it should be noted that the presence of multiple markings on one unit of wood packaging material does not constitute non-compliance with the requirements.