A new standard for wood packaging material that includes pallets becomes effective this month for companies importing goods into the United States.

      The U.S. Department of Agriculture amended its regulations with the goal of decreasing the risk of introducing plant pests into the United States. The USDA has adopted the international standard for wood packaging material that was approved by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) on March 15, 2002.

      The IPPC standard calls for most WPM to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide in accordance with the guidelines and marked with an approved international mark certifying that treatment. The final rule, which becomes effective Sept. 16, affects all persons using wood packaging material in connection with importing goods into the United States.

      The following questions and answers is provided by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

Why a new rule?

      A: Untreated wood poses a significant risk of introducing plant pests, including pathogens, that can be detrimental to agriculture and to natural, cultivated, and urban forest resources. USDA regulations contain provisions to mitigate plant pest risk presented by the importation of such wood. Because wood packaging material is often reused, the true origin of any piece of WPM is difficult to determine and, thus, its treatment status cannot be ascertained.

            Therefore, the USDA amended its regulations to decrease the risk of WPM introducing plant pests into the United States by adopting the international standard for WPM approved by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in 2002.

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