NEWS Simple Explanation regarding wood products shipped outside Canada: If you are a Canadian company using any wood packaging from H & H Wood Products Inc., it does not need to be heat treated if the final destination is the USA. If the wood packaging is to be shipped anywhere else in the world, H & H Wood Products Inc. is certified to manufacture and meet your needs. These strict new rules apply mainly to Mexico, who must now use heat treated wood packaging for export to the USA. Canada and the US use the same pest control standards, and are therefore exempt from ISPM 15 regulations, as stated for implementation September 16, 2005. For more information contact us using support@hhwood.com Did you know? H & H Wood Products Inc. received 100% compliance after an audit from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, dated October 11th, 2005. The audit was conducted to certify our four year old pest control quality process against the Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program for Export, which meets IPPC-ISPM 15 guidelines and regulations. UPDATE: September 15, 2005 - ref: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Because of the unique nature of our relationship with the U.S. in that we have an enormous amount of cross-border trade, there is a mutual exemption between the U.S. and Canada for wood packaging constructed from Canadian or U.S. origin wood that has not moved internationally. There are no requirements for treatments, marking or declaration in the case of shipments imported into Canada. The U.S., however, requires a statement either on the customs documentation or other shipping documents that "Wood packaging in this shipment is derived from trees harvested in the U.S. or Canada". The current policy that the wood packaging must be free of living pests/diseases or signs thereof is still in effect for both countries. Canadian origin wood packaging is also exempt from treatment and marking requirements when moving to non-continental territories of the U.S. The same declaration requirement applies. UPDATE: September 8, 2005 MADE IN CANADA - ref: Canadian Wood Pallet & Container Association The US Customs and Border Protection now require that all shipments entering the USA from Canada must specify MADE IN CANADA. These pallets, wood packaging etc. do not have to be marked or stamped , your customs documents or invoice simply must declare, “that all the wooden pallets associated with this shipment where made in Canada”! Reference UPDATE: August 26, 2005 Dear CWPCA/ACMPC Member: Many members have received detailed changes to import rules through bulletins and communiqués supplied by their customers. These notices infer that all wood packaging must meet IPPC-ISPM 15 to be implemented on September 16, 2005 by all North American governments. This includes wood used in blocking and bracing (dunnage, pallets, spacers, bearers, crating, etc). This is incorrect! They do state correctly that this IPPC-ISPM 15 regulated policy is to protect worldwide forests from pest infestation. Some bulletins, communiqués and press releases posted have been misinterpreted by our customers, large cross boarder brokers and transporters. September 16th is the date that USA, Canada and Mexico have posted as their drop-dead date for all wood packaging arriving in North American from offshore. From this date forward all wood packaging must meet IPPC-ISPM 15 regulations. It was agreed that Mexico would be regulated by both USA and Canada due to their access to exotic timbers which may carry exotic pests. Therefore, Mexico has been asked to meet the IPPC-ISPM 15 regulation when shipping to USA and Canada. In return USA and Canada will provide IPPC-ISPM 15 regulated wood packaging when shipping wood packaging to Mexico. United States and Canada have mutually agreed not to regulate wood packaging moving between these two countries, but rather to recognize that the existing pest specific regulatory controls already in place as sufficient protection. LINKS OF REFERENCE: U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION USDA ENFORCES NEW WOOD PACKAGING IMPORT REQUIREMENTS NATIONAL WOODEN PALLET & CONTAINER ASSOCIATION CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY CANADIAN WOOD PACKAGING & CONTAINER ASSOCIATION If you have any questions, please contact us : support@hhwood.com OR (888) 730-8195