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CBP's 6th Update of its FAQ on APHIS' Sept 16th WPM Treatment and Marking Regulations

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') wood packaging material (WPM) regulations that took effect September 16, 2005.

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Revised FAQ on Invoice or Certificate Requirements

Conforming change regarding deletion of importer statement. CBP has revised its answer to the FAQ on whether there are any invoice or certificate requirements, in order to delete information regarding an importer statement.

In its 5th update, CBP had removed from its answer to another FAQ information that stated that commercial shipments containing WPM made entirely of Canadian origin wood or U.S. origin wood that are traveling between these two countries are subject to inspection and must be accompanied by an importer document stating that they are derived totally from trees harvested in Canada or the U.S.

CBP has now similarly removed information regarding an importer statement (i.e., document) and now instead states that the only exception to the fact that paper certifications of treatment will no longer be required or accepted and invoice statements are no longer required for importation into the U.S. is that non-Canadian merchandise entering directly from Canada on Canadian-origin WPM will experience fewer delays at the U.S.-Canada border if the entry documents contain a statement as to the origin of the WPM.

Revised FAQ on List of Compliant Companies and Approved Fumigators

CBP has revised its response to the question on whether there is a list of compliant countries and approved fumigators by adding a sentence stating that a list of signature countries is maintained at www.nwpca.com/ExportTreatment/ProgramOverview.htm.

(See ITT's Online Archives or 10/13/05 news, 05101310, for BP summary of CBP's 5th update of FAQ. See ITT's Online Archives or 09/19/05 news, 05091910, for BP summary of CBP's 4th update of FAQ. See ITT's Online Archives or 09/15/05 news, 05091510, for BP summary of CBP's 3rd update of FAQ. See ITT's Online Archives or 09/12/05 news, 05091210, for BP summary of CBP's 2nd update of the FAQ. See ITT's Online Archives or 08/24/05 news, 05082405, for BP summary of CBP's 1st update to the FAQ. See ITT's Online Archives or 08/09/05 news, 05080905, for BP summary of CBP's initial FAQ.)

October 14, 2005 version of the FAQs available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/wpm_faq.ctt/wpm_faq.doc