U.S. proposes final rule

The Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes to amend the regulations for the importation of unmanufactured wood articles and make them consistent with the international wood packaging material standard.  Unmanufactured wood articles are solid wood packaging materials (SWPM) used with cargo to prevent damage, including, but not limited to, dunnage, crating, pallets, packing blocks, drums, cases and skids.

The international standard calls for wood packaging material to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with an approved international mark certifying treatment.  APHIS is proposing this standard to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of non-native invasive pests into America’s forests and agricultural lands.