APHIS Issues Fact Sheet on its Suspension of Importation of Certain Wooden Craft Items from China

(In February 2005, APHIS announced that it would implement an import suspension on the above-described items beginning April 1, 2005; however, this fact sheet states that the suspension will go into effect for arrivals after April 1, 2005. According to APHIS sources, this fact sheet supercedes APHIS' earlier announcement. See ITT's Online Archives or 02/25/05 news, 05022500, for BP summary of APHIS' announcement of the import suspension for certain wooden craft items, including artificial Christmas trees, from China.)

APHIS' fact sheet contains a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to assist importers and exporters in determining whether their products are subject to the import suspension. APHIS notes that case-by-case determinations about a product's regulatory status cannot be made based either on photographs, or oral or written descriptions.

Highlights of FAQs Contained in APHIS' Fact Sheet on the Upcoming Suspension

The following are highlights of the fact sheet's FAQs and APHIS' response (partial list):

Importation of manufactured wood items from China prior to suspension. Prior to this suspension taking effect, shipments of manufactured wood items imported from China will be inspected at the port of entry and if live insects are intercepted, the shipment will be refused entry.

Products entering U.S. on/before April 1, 2005 but traveling in bond to another port. In response to a question about whether or not products that enter the U.S. on or before April 1, 2005 and travel in bond to another port will be allowed entry, APHIS states that all shipments must be cleared by April 1, 2005 in order to be authorized entry (and avoid the suspension).

Wooden products from China that are subject to suspension. In response to an inquiry as to what wooden products from China are subject to the import suspension, APHIS states that manufactured wood items made from wooden logs, limbs, branches, or twigs greater than 1 centimeter in diameter and with intact bark, arriving in the U.S. after April 1, 2005 are subject to suspension.

Wooden logs less than 1 centimeter in diameter subject to inspection. In response to a question concerning APHIS' handling of wooden logs with a diameter less than 1 centimeter, APHIS states that manufactured items that contain bark and are less than 1 centimeter in diameter will be subject to inspection. If insects are found, the appropriate quarantine measures will be taken.

Treated & bark-free manufactured wood items not subject to suspension. In its fact sheet, APHIS notes that manufactured wood items that have been heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and have had 100% of the bark removed are not subject to the import suspension.

In response to a question asking about the definitions of "debarked wood," APIHS states that for manufactured wood items from China to be eligible for import they must be debarked in accordance with 7 CFR 319.40-7(b), which requires that 100% of the bark be removed (also referred to as "peeled wood").

Regulatory provisions for wood treatment. In response to a question asking where the regulatory provisions for wood requiring the above-described heat or fumigation treatments are located, APHIS states that the regulatory provisions that specify the appropriate treatments for wood and wood products are found in 7 CFR 319.40-7(c) through (f).

Receiving regular updates on this issue. In order to receive regular updates via email about changes in import policies and regulations governing manufactured wood items, stakeholders can subscribe to the PPQ stakeholder registry for the craft industry by visiting https://web01.aphis.usda.gov/PPQStakeWeb2.nsf (this link must be pasted into a browser in order to work).

APHIS Fact Sheet (dated March 2005) available athttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/faq_phmanufacturedwood.htm