CBP Contrasts FY 2007 and 2008 Wood Packaging Material Interceptions
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a document providing statistics on the national total of fiscal year 2007 and 2008 (for October 1 through June 30 only) interception statistics for wood packaging materials.
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(7 CFR 319.40-3 mandates that regulated WPM - such as, crates, boxes, etc. - whether in actual use as packing for regulated and non-regulated articles or imported as cargo, may be imported into the U.S. under a general permit if they were heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide unless excepted (see regulations for details). 7 CFR 319.40-3 also mandates that WPM include a mark that indicates that the article meets certain requirements; the mark must be approved by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPCC) in its International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) (i.e., ISPM 15).)
The following are highlights of CBP's document:
IPCC Marked with Symbol and Plant Pest Confirmed
For October 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the national total of WPM non-compliant shipments that were IPCC marked with a symbol and a plant pest was confirmed is 470; for October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 the number is 615.
CBP provides the following breakdown for such shipments:
| Country of Origin | Oct. 2006 - June 2007 | Oct. 2007 - June 2008 |
| Mexico | 67% | 49% |
| Turkey | 11% | 6% |
| China | 10% | 32% |
No IPCC Symbol and Plant Pest Confirmed
For October 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the national total of WPM non-compliant shipments that were not marked with an IPCC symbol and a plant pest was confirmed is 32; for October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 the number is 20.
CBP provides the following breakdown for such shipments:
| Country of Origin | Oct. 2006 - June 2007 | Oct. 2007 - June 2008 |
| Mexico | 25% | 5% |
| China | 13% | 10% |
| Italy | <1% | 10% |
| Philippines | <1% | 15% |
| Romania | <1% | 15% |
| Spain | <1% | 15% |
No IPCC Symbol
For October 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, the national total of WPM non-compliant shipments that were not marked with an IPCC symbol is 2,237; for October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 the number is 2,183.
CBP provides the following breakdown for such shipments:
| Country of Origin | Oct. 2006 - June 2007 | Oct. 2007 - June 2008 |
| Mexico | 42% | 39% |
| China | 6% | 9% |
| India | 5% | 5% |
(See CBP's document for specific examples of non-compliant shipments.)
APHIS' Web Site Contains List of Countries Requiring ISPM 15, FAQs, Etc.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has additional details regarding WPM on its Web site. Among other things, APHIS' Web site provides information on the September 2004 final rule for new requirements concerning the importation of WPM, a list of countries requiring ISPM 15, frequently asked questions and answers regarding interpreting the implementation of the U.S. Heat Treatment and Fumigation Program.
APHIS' WPM Web site http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/index.shtml
(See ITT's Online Archives or 10/06/08 news, 08100655, for previous BP summary on these statistics.)
See ITT's Online Archives or 07/08/08 news, 08070820, for BP summary of CBP reminding importers to ensure WPM is ISPM-15 compliant.
See ITT's Online Archives or 09/02/08 news, 08090220, for BP reminder on the September 30, 2008 due date for comments on IPCC's draft revised ISPM 15.)
Statistics (posted 10/01/08) available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/trade/trade_outreach/coac/meetings/08072008_meeting/coac_aoo.ctt/coac_aoo.pdf