EU's Requirement for WPM to be Debarked and Marked 'DB' Scheduled to Take Effect March 1, 2006 (Unless Further Postponed)
According to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) sources, in addition to International Standards and Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 for wood packaging material (WPM) that the European Union (EU) implemented on March 1, 2005, the EU is scheduled to begin imposing debarking and 'DB' marking requirements for WPM effective March 1, 2006, unless it is further postponed.
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(The EU's debarking and 'DB' marking requirements for WPM were originally scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2005, but were postponed until March 1, 2006. See ITT's Online Archives or 03/02/05 news, (Ref 05030210) for BP summary of postponement. See ITT's Online Archives or 02/22/05 news, 05022210 for preceding BP summary of the EU's implementation of ISPM 15.)
European Officials to Consider Further Postponement, Etc.
APHIS sources state that European officials will consider, among other things, a further postponement of the debarking and/or 'DB' marking requirements during a meeting scheduled to be held during the week beginning January 16, 2006.
(According to APHIS' most recent update on WPM requirements for the EU, and other sources, effective March 1, 2005, the EU required all newly assembled, repaired or recycled unprocessed raw wood packaging materials (hardwood and softwood), including dunnage, entering the EU to be either heat treated or fumigated and officially marked under ISPM 15.
Effective that same date, for hardwood and softwood dunnage only, the EU allowed, as a temporary alternative to ISPM 15, that dunnage meet the requirements of being bark-free and free from signs of live pests. After December 31, 2007, APHIS states the EU will require all dunnage to be treated and marked under ISPM 15. (APHIS sources have previously noted that by that time technology should be in place to mark each foot of each piece of dunnage, or certain agencies, organizations, or companies would have authority to stamp pieces of dunnage during packing or loading.)
Effective March 1, 2006, the EU is scheduled to require all WPM to additionally be debarked and marked 'DB.' The U.S. is not currently in favor of these additional requirements.
APHIS sources have previously stated that "dunnage" refers to individual pieces of loose, unmanufactured wood used for blocking and bracing cargo.)
APHIS Update (dated 10/07/05) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/wpm/export/eu.html
'Older' FAS notice on U.S. concerns regarding debarking (dated 03/01/05) available at www.useu.be/agri/woodpack.html
USTR Foreign Trade Barriers Report with respect to EU, that among other things, covers debarking issue (see page 205), at http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/2005/2005_NTE_Report/asset_upload_file446_7468.pdf