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ISPM 15 Update - May 18, 2009

Debarking of Wood Packaging Material (WPM)

The revised ISPM 15 has been approved and published requiring that all stamped WPMs be manufactured from debarked wood. The Debark Regulation requires that any number of separate and clearly distinctive small pieces of bark are acceptable under the following conditions:

• Less than 3 centimeters (1-1/8") in width regardless of the length of the patch.
• Greater than 3 centimeters in width and the total area of the bark patch must be less than 50 square centimeters (approximately the size of a credit card).

Bark is considered the "outer layer of a woody trunk, branch or root outside the cambium layer". Pieces of bark covering several faces of a wood component must be measured widthwise from edge to edge of each patch. Excessive bark can be scraped or stripped from the wood components.

The American Lumber Standard Committee has set June 1, 2009 as the effective date for enforcement of the Debarking Regulation. It is necessary for you to insure that all WPM certified products comply with this new Debarking Regulation. All PRL inspectors will immediately begin notifying our customers and holding WPMs containing components exceeding the limits of the Debarking Regulation.

Below are some general questions and answers regarding the Debarking Regulation adopted in the Revised ISPM 15:

a) How many individual bark patches can be on one board, if they are each less than 1 1/8" wide or less then credit card size?
There is no limit on the number of distinctive separated blotches or patches of bark on each piece.

b) There is 1 inch on the face of the length of the board and that same bark is 1 inch on the side of the length of the board....what is the call?
The width of the patch is measured across the patch regardless of the faces of the wood component it covers. In this scenario the total width exceeds 1 1/8" and therefore can not be larger than 50 cm² or the area of a credit card.

c) A board has a blotch and also has the scenario of b) above.....what is the call?
Because the patch of bark exceeds the limit in scenario B this component is non-compliant and can not be used in the WPM stamped product.

d) A board has had the bark removed and has only the residual wane (missing wood or untrimmed bark along the edge or corner of the piece) ....is it within the debarked limitation?
Bark can be stripped from the board making it compliant. Wane is not affected in the debarked regulation.

e) What about knot(s).....if there are 10 small knots scattered across a 1 x 6 x 10 ft long...?
Knots are not affected by the regulation, only the bark that may be around them.

f) What about inside knots that are not round...but are oblong and narrow? For example, about 5 inches long and only 1 inch wide....if you were to modify the shape of the area of the credit card is this ok?
Yes, the credit card standard must be used on all patches of bark wider than 1 1/8". As noted above, the bark around the knot (excluding the knot) is measured for compliance to the Debarking Limit.

g) A facility has a bundle of #3 or better with bark and knots.....they have not opened the bundle yet....do they need to modify their procedure form if that procedure is to sort as used instead of sorting once a bundle is opened?
The material must be sorted upon opening of the bundle and usage of the material.

WPM and Dunnage Stamp Revision

Included in the revised ISPM 15 is the regulation that the only information allowed to be contained within the borders of the WPM and Dunnage Stamp will be the IPPC logo, the treatment method, country code, and facility number. The certifying agency logo (i.e. PRL) and Dunnage or Dun will be on the right side, outside the borders. The facility code will remain the same except two digits will be added to identify the agency (11 for PRL) and the remaining digits after these will identify your facility.

The ALSC has informed us that our customers will be able to continue using the stamps they currently hold , but eventually all stamps will have to be replaced using the new formats. Additionally, WPM products previously stamped will continue to be accepted. All replacement stamp orders are being fabricated using the new format.

ISPM 15 Update - March 31, 2009

Debarking of WPM-European Union

The European Union will implement the Debarking Regulation regarding Wood Packaging Material on July 1, 2009. A number of small patches of bark are acceptable under the following conditions;

• Less than 3 centimeters (1-1/8") in width regardless of the length of the patch.
• Greater than 3 centimeters in width and the total area of the bark patch must be less than 50 square centimeters, approximately the size of a credit card. These levels are for each component of the WPM (i.e. runners and deckboards).

PRL will begin enforcing the bark restriction beginning in May in order for you to be in compliance to the Regulation for the July 1, 2009 deadline.

Heat Treatment Chambers

Facilities utilizing thermocouples inserted directly into wood or WPM which does not maintain an operating temperature of 140º F minimum will require that a temperature verification study be made. This study will identify the cold spots of the chamber for proper locations of the thermocouples during normal heat treating of wood or WPM. A study will not be required for facilities maintaining 140º F minimum on all thermocouples during a heat treating charge. This requirement was added to the WPM Enforcement Regulations on November 14, 2008 by the ALSC.

Our study to identify the cold spots of chambers in the field in still in process and we will update you in the near future regarding the required location of the thermocouples.

ISPM 15 Update - August 8, 2008

Canadian/U.S. Exemption for WPM

APHIS and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are working on a phase out of the exemption of the ISPM 15 exemption between the two countries. The tentative plan is to phase out the exemption over a 2 year period. The official announcement and start date has not been announced. PRL will distribute this information as soon as it is released.

Summary information for countries that have begun implementation or announced plans to implement ISPM-15:

Argentina: June 1, 2006
Australia: September 1, 2004 (starting July 1, 2010 will switch to debarked WPM)
Bulgaria: January 24, 2006
Bolivia: July 23, 2005
Brazil: June 1, 2005
Canada: September 16, 2005 (Exemption granted to US)
Chile: June 1, 2005
China: January 1, 2006
Colombia: September 16, 2005
Costa Rica: March 19, 2006
Croatia: January 1, 2007
Cuba: October 1, 2008
Dominican Republic: July 1, 2006
Ecuador: September 20, 2005
Egypt: October 1, 2005
European Union: March 1, 2005
Guatemala: September 16, 2005
Honduras: February 25, 2006
India: November 1, 2004
Indonesia: September 1, 2009
Israel: June 23, 2009
Jamaica: January 1, 2011
Japan: April 1, 2007
Jordan: November 17, 2005
Kenya: January 2006
Lebanon: March 26, 2006
Malaysia: January 1, 2010
Mexico: September 16, 2005
New Zealand: April 16, 2003 (starting November 1, 2009 will switch to debarked WPM)
Nicaragua: March, 2006
Nigeria: September 30, 2004
Norway: January 1, 2008
Oman: December, 2006
Paraguay: June 28, 2005
Peru: March 1, 2005
Philippines: June 1, 2005
Senegal: August 15, 2010
Seychelles (off the east coast of Africa): March 1, 2006
South Africa: January 1, 2005
South Korea: June 1, 2005
Sri Lanka: March 8, 2010
Switzerland: March 1, 2005
Syria: April 1, 2006
Taiwan: July, 2008
Tanzania: No published date of implementation
Thailand: February 10, 2010
Trinidad & Tobago: September 15, 2005
Turkeyy: January 1, 2006
Ukraine: October 1, 2005
United States: September 16, 2005
Venezuela: June 1, 2005
Vietnam: June 5, 2005

The European Union is composed of; Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

ISPM 15 Update - July 23, 2009

Heat Treat Chamber Studies

Facilities utilizing thermocouples inserted directly into wood or WPM which do not maintain an operating temperature of 140º F minimum will require that a temperature verification study be performed. This study will identify the cold spots of the chamber for proper locations of the thermocouples during normal heat treating of wood or WPM. However a study will not be required for facilities electing to maintain the 140º F minimum on all thermocouples during a heat treating charge (this requirement was added to the WPM Enforcement Regulations on November 14, 2008 by the ALSC.)

PRL will shortly complete the heat studies of manufactured heat chambers to identify and document the cold spots of these chambers. PRL will distribute the appropriate heat study to clients using these manufactured chambers. This will allow continued operation of these units at a minimum temperature of 132.8° F upon placement of the temperature probes in the “cold spots” as identified in the heat treatment studies. Please be advised that effective August 1, 2009 heat chambers lacking a heat study, i.e., custom designed units must maintain an operating temperature of 140° F minimum until a heat study is completed for that unit.

Debarking of Wood Packaging Material (WPM)

In compliance to the revised ISPM-15 regulations we are inspecting the bark on stamped WPM at a ZERO tolerance level resulting in a large volume of held units. It is necessary that all WPM certified products comply with the new Debarking Regulations. I will be evaluating each facilities bark during each monthly inspection.

Below you will find some example pictures of bark that is either Compliant or Non-Compliant:

Australia-Regulatory Changes of WPM Product

The Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has announced the postponement of its upcoming change, scheduled for August 1, 2009, requiring the treatment of plywood used in imported WPMs. AQIS will continue to accept packaging containing newly manufactured plywood from the United States. As is the current case, the country of manufacture and a statement that the plywood has not been pre-used should accompany every shipment sent to Australia.

Due to numerous responses and objections to the proposed changes in their WPM regulations, AQIS has elected to postpone enactment of this regulation until concerns are reviewed. As talks continue between APHIS and AQIS we will continue to keep you updated on any changes as they arise.

ISPM 15 Update - September, 2009

New Stamp Format

As you know the stamp for the ISPM-15 program has been re-formatted. To the left you will see a sample of this new format. We have had numerous questions about the new numbering system. The 11 on the new stamp is the Agency code (11=PRL) and the other 3 or 4 numbers are the Facility code. As new stamps are ordered they will be made in this new format. All old format stamps will continue to be accepted.

Debarking of Wood Packaging Material (WPM)

The revised ISPM 15 requires all stamped WPMs be manufactured from debarked wood. The Debark Regulation requires that any number of separate and clearly distinctive small pieces of bark are acceptable under the following conditions:

1. Less than 3 centimeters (1-1/8”) in width regardless of the length of the patch.
2. Greater than 3 centimeters in width and the total area of the bark patch must be less than 50 square centimeters (approximately the size of a credit card).

Bark is considered the “outer layer of a woody trunk, branch or root outside the cambium layer”. Pieces of bark covering several faces of a wood component must be measured widthwise from edge to edge of each patch. Excessive bark can be scraped or stripped from the wood components.

During PRL inspections there is a zero tolerance to bark exceeding these levels. As a result of this new regulation many of our clients have had products held and sent back to the manufacturer for failing to comply. Also, there have been an increased number of re-inspections due to bark not being compliant. Again, this regulation is for all products with the WPM mark. (Australia and New Zealand require bark free WPM.)