CBP Updates Its FAQ on the September 16th Enforcement of APHIS Treatment/Marking of Wood Packaging Material
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has updated its set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') new wood packaging material (WPM) regulations that take effect September 16, 2005.
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(See ITT's Online Archives or 08/09/05 news, 05080905, for BP summary of CBP's August 5, 2005 version of this FAQ.)
FAQs Added on Consolidated Shipments, Non-compliant WPM, Etc.
CBP's August 22, 2005 version of the FAQs contains the following three new FAQs:
Consolidated shipments, mixed loads, bulk cargo, merchandise traveling in bond or on a carnet. In response to a new question as to how it will handle WPM in consolidated shipments, mixed loads, bulk cargo, and any merchandise traveling in bond or on a carnet, CBP states that all regulated WPM must be treated and marked; the regulation does not differentiate among types of loads or types of entry document. CBP emphasizes that all regulated WPM is either compliant or non-compliant and will be handled accordingly.
Non-compliant WPM that the country of export/origin will not take back. In response to a new question as to what happens if a shipment contains non-compliant WPM and the country of export or country of origin will not take it back, CBP states that the regulation does not state that the violative WPM must be returned to any particular country. Rather, it states that the violative WPM may not come into the U.S. and may be reexported. According to CBP, it will be the responsibility of the importer to determine an alternate destination that will accept the untreated WPM.
Frequency of re-treatment of WPM. In response to a new question as to how often WPM needs to be re-treated, CBP states that acceptable treatments (i.e., heat treatment or fumigation with methyl bromide) need only be done once. Once the WPM is properly treated and marked by an approved treatment facility in any country, the mark will be accepted as proof of compliance for the life of the WPM.
FAQs on Invoice Requirements, Lists of Compliant Countries, Etc. Expanded
CBP's August 22, 2005 version also includes an expansion of the following two FAQs:
Invoice requirements. CBP has expanded its answer to the question as to whether there are any invoice requirements. CBP's answer, in addition to stating that paper certification of treatment will no longer be required or accepted, now also states that the ABI statement requirements will no longer be required or accepted.
Lists of compliant countries and approved fumigators. CBP has expanded its response to the question of whether there is a list of compliant countries and approved fumigators by noting that:
A partial list of signatory countries and approved U.S. fumigators is maintained at the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association Web site;
A list of U.S. approved heat treatment facilities may be found at the American Lumber Standard Committee, Incorporated Web site; and
Contact information for international treatment facilities may be requested from the appropriate country plant protection agency. (A listing of plant protection agencies is maintained at the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Web site.) (Links to each of these lists is available in this FAQ document.)
August 22, 2005 version of the FAQs available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/wpm_faq.xml.)