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Timcon - Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation - ISPM15
ISPM15
- Information
7th October 2013
The ISPM15 standard has been updated to include 'heat treatment using dielectric
heating (treatment code for the mark: DH)'
This is now available to download
here
23rd April 2013
Dielectric Heating (incl Microwaves) - Official adoption by FAO - CPM
The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures
(CPM) has recently adopted dielectric heat treatment as a treatment in Annex 1
of ISPM 15. The ‘final’ revised ISPM 15 will be posted on the IPP website in due
course (expected to be within 2 weeks) and the official notification will be in
the CPM report, which will be published as soon as possible (expected to be
May/June).
See links below-
FAO Link
IPPC Link
As soon as more information is available, we will let you know.
10th February 2010
CESSATION OF
THE USE OF METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION WITHIN THE UKWPMMP
We consulted with
the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) and the UKWPMMP Advisory Council
members last February about the possible phase out of methyl bromide fumigation
within the UKWPMMP during 2009. Following representation from the BPCA, we
agreed that fumigation services should be permitted to use their stocks of the
fumigant until 18 March 2010. This accords with a notice, issued by the
Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), which gave approval for the storage and use
by any persons for the fumigant until 18 March 2010 in accordance with
Commission Decision 2008/753/EC – Methyl Bromide – professional products.
All UKWPMMP participants are therefore reminded that fumigation services will
cease to be able to use methyl bromide within the UKWPMMP with effect from
Friday 19th March 2010 and no further fumigation treatments will be
permitted within the Programme on or after this date.
UKWPMMP participants who have methyl bromide treated timber material or
manufactured articles of wood packaging material in stock after the fumigant
withdrawal date will, however, be permitted to use up these stocks and mark the
products with the treatment code ‘MB’ accordingly.
ISPM15 Revised
(2009) – THE MODEL MARK
I am aware from
recent updates from the Assessment Agencies that many of the UKWPMMP
participants have been proactive in revising their wood marks in line with the
guidance issued on 15th June 2009. For those companies that have still to amend
their marks, so that they meet the requirements of the model examples provided
in the revised version of ISPM15, they should note that if they have not done so
12 months on from the assessment that took place before 15th June 2009 (the date
of the guidance note), we shall have to withdraw approval to apply the mark with
immediate effect. We shall write individually to any company to which this
applies inviting them to re-apply to join the Programme again once they have
made arrangements to update their mark. It should be noted that this will
involve the issue of a new producer code.
All UKWPMMP participants MUST HAVE an example of the new model marks in
operation by 15 June 2010. Examples of the new model marks can be
seen below for ease of reference.
Yours sincerely
Ian Brownlee
Operations Manager
Forestry Commission
Please
click here
for a copy of this letter.
15th June 2009 - ISPM15 Revised (2009) -
THE MODEL MARK
Following the country
consultation exercise that took place at the end of last year the final
version of the ISPM15 (revised) was published in May 2009 and many of you
will have seen a copy of it by now (it can be viewed on the IPPC website at
the link shown
below). The Advisory Council of the UKWPMMP met on 19 May to consider and
agree how the changes to ISPM No.15 are to be implemented in the UK and for
your information the minutes of that meeting will be published on both the
FC’s and TIMCON’s websites shortly. The FC will then revise the UKWPMMP
Plant Health Guide and make any necessary amendments to the Plant Health
(Wood Packaging Material Marking) (Forestry) (Order) 2006.
However, in advance of this work, as there is some confusion on the guidance
provided in the revised version of ISPM15 concerning what should and should
not be included in the new model mark we are issuing clarification of the
requirements now. These instructions aim to avoid wood packaging material
manufacturers purchasing stencils, stamps and branding iron templates, which
would not be acceptable.
The Advisory Council agreed that with immediate effect new members joining
the UKWPMMP must use the new style of mark. For existing members the
Advisory Council agreed a transition period whereby new format marks must be
available for approval at the next assessment, or no later than one year
from the date of the last. We recognise, however, that programme members may
wish to amend their marks at the earliest opportunity. Please, however, note
the footnote on page 13 of ISPM15 (revised) which states – 'At import,
countries should accept previously produced wood packaging material carrying
a mark consistent with earlier versions of this standard’.
source -
IPPC Website
An example of the new mark is below for information. Variations in the
layout of the mark are also below.
Please note that only the information set out in the Annex (IPPC logo,
Country Code, Producer code starting with the letters ‘FC’ and Treatment
code either ‘HT’ or ‘MB’) are to be included within the border, which is now
a mandatory component of the mark. No other information such as Forestry
Commission name or logo or company names or logos are to be included within
box outlining the mark. As ALL wood packaging material must now be debarked
within defined tolerances, the code “DB” is no longer required and should
not be included.
Should you have any enquiries about the new mark please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Yours sincerely
Ian Brownlee
Operations Manager
Forestry Commission
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
Example 7
8th May 2009 - ISPM15 REVISION 2009 -
EXAMPLE ISPM15 MARK NOW ACCEPTED
The examples below illustrate some acceptable
variants of the required components of the mark that is used to certify that the
wood packaging material that bears such a mark has been subjected to an approved
treatment. For more information on the new (revised) ISPM15 regulation,
click here.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3 (This represents a prospective example of a mark with
the border with rounded corners.)
Example 4 (This represents a prospective example of a mark
applied by stencilling; small gaps may be present in the border, and the
vertical line, and elsewhere among the components of the mark.)
Example 5
Example 6
16th April 2007
RE: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
– USE OF FC TWO TREE LOGO IS NO LONGER MANDATORY
All participants of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme are hereby notified that, with immediate effect, the inclusion of the FC Two Tree logo and the words ‘Forestry Commission’ will no longer be mandatory within the UKWPMMP mark. However, if you wish to continue to use them then you may do
so.
Please see following sample mark.
We have been advised that some importing countries are refusing to accept marks that, in their opinion, do not follow exactly the model shown in Annex II to ISPM No. 15 (as per the example above). We shall continue to defend marks used within the UKWPMMP which in our opinion do meet the recommendations in ISPM No 15 but users may wish to review their mark and consider whether modifications should be made. We will be happy to offer advice where this is requested. It is important to remember that it is the National Plant Protection Organisation of the importing country which is the final arbiter in determining what they will accept although we would hope that in cases of doubt they would check with the authorities in the country of origin.
Ian Brownlee
Forestry Commission
Plant Health Service
EDINBURGH
30th October 2006
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
ISPM15 CERTIFICATION LAW IN
GREAT BRITAIN
The Forestry Commissioners are introducing three
Statutory Instruments that come into force on 6 November 2006.
These are:
Further information can be found by clicking on the links
above.
Statutory Instruments can be viewed on the Stationery
Office website.
2006 No. 2695
15th April 2005
Please find 2 documents (in Adobe Acrobat PDF
format) which here been sent to us by the Forestry Commission, please read the
following documents carefully, as it has very important information about the
regulations within the UKWPMMP.
ASSESSMENT
NOTES – Issue 1
(Please
click here)
Introduction
As the new regime of using independent agencies beds in questions are
inevitably being asked as new situations are encountered. This is to be
encouraged and we have decided that it will be in everyone’s best interests
if, in addition to answering the initial query, the question and its answer are
published for all to see. While primarily directed at those carrying out the
assessments, we also plan to publish them on our website so that anyone with an
interest in the Programme can perhaps benefit from our experience.
ASSESSMENT
NOTES – Issue 2
(Please
click here)
Background
At an international ISPM15 Workshop held in Vancouver recently delegates
discussed some of the poor quality marking applied to wood packaging
material which was considered to be due to some national programmes taking time
to 'bed in'.
As the UKWPMMP has been operational since October 2001 ie it has had sufficient
time to 'bed in', it was disappointing to note at the Workshop that some wood
packaging material, which had been manufactured in the UK, displayed some
extremely poor quality marks (see attached photographs). It is appreciated that
some companies have experimented with different inks, stamps, stencils, branding
plates etc in order to achieve a high quality of marking but participants should
now be able to achieve ISPM15 marking requirements.
30 April 2004
Forestry Commission Plant Health Newsletter No 16
(Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Click
here
14 November 2003
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT –
USE OF IPPC LOGO IS COMPULSORY FROM 1 JANUARY 2004
All participants of the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme are hereby notified that with effect from 1 January 2004, you will be required to use the new logo.
Please see following sample mark.
As per previous communications, you are authorised to use the new IPPC logo provided that you comply with all of the other provisions of the Programme. It remains mandatory that in the UK the logo incorporates the Forestry Commission ‘two tree’ logo.
Please note that the size of the logo is not prescribed and the only requirement is that the mark must be permanent and legible. Furthermore, the colour is not prescribed, however, please note that red and orange should be avoided as they are used to identify dangerous or hazardous cargo.
For wood packaging material comprising more than one component (eg. a pallet), it will be in order for the existing elements of the mark to be on one component and the new IPPC logo on another. This may be necessary if all of the elements are to remain legible. However, it is clearly more practical and economic for the entire mark to be on one vertical component if possible, so it has been decided that the registration number can be restricted to three (3) digits, rather than four (4) ie FC000 and not as shown in the diagram above.
It is RECOMMENDED, at an additional safeguard against rejection against wood packaging material in the country of import, that pallets and packages be marked on TWO (2) opposite vertical sides so that the likelihood of the appropriate marking being recognised by the importing authorities is increased.
All participants should note that Phytosanitary Certificates are only required for imports into China and that it is a specific advantage of ISPM15 that these certificates are not necessary. It is hoped that the Chinese authorities will in the future adopt the ISPM15 which will eliminate the current requirement for Phytosanitary Certificates.
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact me in the Timcon Secretariat, on telephone 0116 2640579.
CHINA JUMPS THE GUN OVER IMPORTS
UK wood packaging industry needs to respond to direct & threat
Click HERE for more
information
FORESTRY COMMISSION PLANT HEALTH SERVICE – INFORMATION NOTE
VERIFICATION OF METHYL BROMIDE FUMIGATION IN TREATING WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES ISPM 15
Click here for PDF File (Notes) (June 2002)
Heat treatment verification information notes,
From
the Forestry Commission.
HT Verification Introduction
(PDF file) relates to the process involved in the assessment of
heat treatment facilities and
HT Verification Purchased Timber
(PDF file - updated March 2005) relates to the assessment of heat
treated timber obtained from sources in the UK or abroad. Click above for the
PDF Files (Notes). (June 2002)
March 2002
The international standards for phytosanitary measures
Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in
international trade.
(Adobe Acrobat PDF format)
Click
here
For full information on the European Union Emergency Import rules for
softwoods, in force from October 1 2001 see www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth
To access the International
Standard for a Phytosanitary Measure entitled 'Guidelines for regulating
wood packing material in international trade' (ISPM15) please visit
http://www.ippc.int and click on ISPMs in the
Publications section.
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