The timber pallets and packaging sector has been granted additional time to adapt to changes proposed to the ISPM 15 regime in Europe, after a successful submission to the European Commission by the European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB).
The plans will see the extension of current ISPM 15 controls for the heat treatment and marking of timber pallets and packaging being exported from Portugal to cover all timber pallets and packaging that leave the country, including products from other member states.
ISPM 15 phytosanitary controls were first put in place worldwide in 2002 to halt the spread of pest solid wood packaging. The most recent extension was proposed by the EC as a specific precautionary measure, due to the unchecked spread of pinewood nematode in Portugal.
The European Commission had initially ruled the new controls would be implemented by June 16th. However, FEFPEB lobbied for this date to be postponed in order to minimise disruption to trade and to allow suppliers of wooden pallets and packaging to begin building up a critical mass of ISPM 15 certified products in Portugal. As a result, the Commission’s Standing Committee on Plant Health granted a derogation to move the introduction date to January 1, 2010.
Announcing the derogation to the UK timber packaging sector, John Dye, president of the Timber Packaging and Pallet Federation (TIMCON) said: “As an active member of FEFPEB on its ISPM 15 taskforce, TIMCON has directly represented the interests of the UK industry on the international stage. We are extremely pleased that the European Commission has agreed with our view that the timber packaging industry requires more time to implement extended ISPM 15 controls effectively.
“It is highly unusual for the EC Standing Committee on Plant Health to postpone such measures, so this move demonstrates that it has listened carefully to our concerns. This augurs well for the proposed further extension of ISPM 15 to cover all movements of timber pallets and packaging across national borders within the EU, as it is vitally important that the measures are realistic and achievable.
“We are now working with members to ensure that the industry is fully prepared for the introduction of the extended controls for Portugal on January 1, 2010. This process needs to start now so members can continue to provide a continuous supply of timber packaging and pallets – which offer significant economic and environmental benefits to their clients. TIMCON urges its members to advise their clients to review the need for heat-treated pallets and packaging immediately for shipments into Portugal.”
In a letter to FEFPEB outlining its decision, the Commission added: “The Commission and the Member States count on the efforts of the wood packaging materials, transport and logistics industries to adapt as soon as possible to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 requirement in order to be fully ready to implement it when the derogation expires at the end of 2009.”
For more on TIMCON, please visit www.timcon.org
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