Rome – The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has released the Guide to Regulation of Wood Packaging Material, aimed at assisting countries in improving their management of plant pest introduction and spread via the global movement of goods.
Approximately 80% of all shipments involved in global trade contain some form of wood packaging material (WPM), including pallets, crates, drums, dunnage, and other wooden components that are utilized to stabilize, safeguard, or facilitate the transport of goods or commodities.
The use of wood packaging presents a possible route for the entry and propagation of pests, particularly those that could cause harm to trees and forest ecosystems. This matter is compounded by the fact that wood packaging material may be utilized across various industries. Therefore, it could be linked to any imported shipment, even those that typically wouldn’t require phytosanitary measures.
The IPPC and phytosanitary experts developed the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 or the Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade to offer countries a harmonized approach by which they may address the pest risk posed by the international movement of WPM.
To provide countries with a unified approach to tackle the potential threat of pests posed by the global transport of wood packaging material, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and phytosanitary specialists created the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM).
The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 outlines phytosanitary protocols to safeguard forests from the introduction of quarantine pests. Additionally, it simplifies trade by replacing the necessity for phytosanitary certificates with a universally recognized label. This ISPM 15 mark may only be used on wood packaging material that has undergone the requisite treatment as stipulated by the standard. The implementation of ISPM 15 is viewed as a crucial step in curtailing the entry and propagation of pests, consequently mitigating their adverse effects on both natural and cultivated forests.
Guide to the regulation of wood packaging material
The recently released IPPC Guide offers extensive insights to enhance the comprehension and execution of ISPM 15. It offers practical advice to national plant protection organizations on the phytosanitary measures authorized in ISPM 15 and the requisite steps to generate compliant wood packaging material. The IPPC Guide caters to ISPM 15 treatment providers, manufacturers, repairers, remanufacturers, and other relevant stakeholders, providing them with pertinent information to elevate their adherence to ISPM 15 and lower the prevalence of quarantine pests. The Guide furnishes a wealth of knowledge on approved treatment alternatives for wood packaging material, the application of the ISPM 15 mark, manufacturing, repairing, and reusing wood packaging material, import-inspection procedures, and phytosanitary interventions in response to non-compliance with ISPM 15.
The IPPC Guide employs numerous case studies to underscore the various strategies that countries have adopted to surmount the obstacles linked to the execution of ISPM 15. These approaches comprise promoting awareness among the general public and industries, registering ISPM 15 treatment providers, augmenting compliance, utilizing generic heat treatment schedules, and managing ship-borne dunnage.
“This newly published resource is a valuable addition to the library of IPPC guides and training materials,” said Faith Ndunge, IPPC Implementation Committee representative for Africa. “It provides practical information and recommends best practices to support national plant protection organizations in effectively implementing ISPM 15. By doing so, it helps mitigate the risk of spreading forest pests and facilitates trade in goods transported using wood packaging material.
“On behalf of the Implementation Committee, I wish to thank the working group members and reviewers who contributed to the development of this much anticipated IPPC Guide,” she concluded.
The IPPC Guide to Regulation of wood packaging material can be downloaded through this link.