Exporting, The Environment and ISPM15 Wooden Packaging
There are certain rules and regulations that must be followed when you export timber packaging outside of the European Community , and if you get it wrong, the costs and consequences can be very damaging.
What is ISPM15?
In order to protect worldwide stocks of trees and forests, the International Plant Protection Committee (IPPC) has taken regulatory action to control the global movement of wooden packaging in the form of ISPM15. The Forestry Commission is the UK's representative on the IPPC.
In essence ISPM15 stands for International Phytosanitary Standard for Wood Packaging (ISPM15) Regulations, which is regulatory action to help prevent the spread of destructive pests such as the Asian Longhorn Beetle and the Pine Wood Nematode.
Wooden packaging material is often made of unprocessed raw wood, which can provide a pathway for the introduction and spread of such pests if left untreated.
Will it affect me?
If you don’t export outside of the European Union countries then you will not need to do anything as the regulations only apply when exporting outside of the EU.
However, if you export using wooden packaging that contains any sawn timber, such as new or second-hand pallets, boxes, crates, cable drums or warehouse containers outside of the EU you will be bound, in most instances, by these regulations and must comply. Please refer to the TIMCON website for a country-by-country compliance list.
Any packaging that is made solely from manufactured board such as plywood, OSB, or chipboard and uses no sawn timber at all, is exempt.
In all participating countries where the regulations apply, Customs and Border Control will inspect your packaging on arrival to find the ISPM15 mark. If your packaging isn’t stamped, or the stamp is illegible, it could be rejected and returned or impounded for treatment by Customs and Border Control locally, for which you will be charged (charges have been known to be in the region of several thousand dollars per container).
To find out more about ISPM15 and how it may affect your business, please call us on 01829 260571 or alternatively, email us your enquiry and we'll get in touch with you.
How can Rowlinson Packaging help me?
Rowlinson Packaging were the first wooden case maker in the UK to buy and install a heat chamber, specifically designed for heat treatment.
This allows us to treat either timber or finished cases and pallets from our site at Wardle in Cheshire, in the most cost effective manner.
The treatment (HT and MB) lasts for life, so there is no need to re-treat returned packaging that is re-usable.
As a result of having this technology at our disposal, Rowlinson Packaging can provide you with a range of ISPM15 compliant packaging including:
- ISMP15 Pallets
- ISPM15 Wooden Crates
- ISPM15 Wooden Boxes
- ISPM15 Export Packaging
- ISPM15 Wooden cases
In addition, as one of our Managing Directors is also a Director of TIMCON (Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation) we receive all the latest news first hand, which means we can react to it quickly, ensuring you and your packaging are always compliant.
What you have to look for to comply
Firstly, any packaging supplier you consider should be complicit with the regulations and is registered with the Forestry Commission.
Rownlinson Packaging fully comply with the regulations and are registered with the Forestry Commision. You can view our current certficate here and another sample certificate here.
Secondly, the timber that your chosen supplier uses must undergo one of two treatments:
1. Heat treatment (of wood packaging), which requires heating of the timber to a minimum core temperature of 56C for a minimum of 30 minutes (HT).
OR2. Fumigation, to the relevant specification.
Finally, in order to join the scheme, packaging manufacturers need to demonstrate to a third party assessor that they meet the requirements.
Once registered, your chose supplier is then authorised to use to ISPM15 mark, which includes the country of origin and a unique manufacturer's registration number (see below).
Concerned for the environment
Far before it became ‘in vogue’ to be green, Rowlinson Packaging had a policy of using sustainable sources.
Now of course we have the advantage of ISO14001, which Rowlinson Packaging operates to, which dictates that all sources must be documented and traceable.
Currently we use a variety of sources from the UK, Baltic States, Brazil and the Scandinavian countries for all our timber and sheet materials.
The latest, state of the art technology at our factory ensures that all the sawmill machinery is linked to a large extraction unit, which reduces the dust in the atmosphere to a minimum making the working environment better for all the staff.
The sawdust is also completely recycled, either by burning it as fuel to heat the factory, sending it to farmers for horse and pig bedding or supplying it to chip board manufacturers for use in their boards. The alternative would be for it to be dumped in landfill sites and we don’t even consider that an option.
Another great way we reduce wastage and increase efficiency is by using computers to recognise and cross reference off-cuts when cutting materials. Sizes that are required in smaller regular jobs can be used thereby making the best of materials and energy as well as reducing expended energy.
To complete the picture, all non-wood based waste is segregated where possible and recycled.
I need more information, where can I find it?
There are two main websites that you can visit to find out more:
Or, if you have a question about ISPM 15 and the environmental issues that affect exporting, you can contact us now on 01829 260571 or, send us your query by email
|
|
