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Plants> Plant Protection Policy Directives > Forestry 

Review

This directive will be reviewed every five years, unless otherwise needed. The next date of review is June 9, 2010. The contact for this directive is Joanne Rousson. For further information or clarification, please contact the Forestry Section.

Endorsement

Approved by:

Amendment Record

Amendments to this directive will be dated and distributed as outlined in the distribution below.

Distribution

1. Directive mail list (Regions, PHRA, USDA)
2. Provincial Government, Industry (via Areas)
3. National Industry Organizations (determined by Author)
4. Internet

Introduction

The risk represented by wood packaging materials and dunnage varies depending on the quality, conditioning and degree of finishing of the wood. The better the quality of wood used, the less likely it is that the wood packaging materials may be infested with serious pests. Many exotic plant pests have been intercepted on wood dunnage, pallets, crating or other wood packaging materials. Examples of plant quarantine pests intercepted include: Anoplophora chinensis, Anoplophora glabripennis, Ips typographus, Hylastes ater, Monochamus sp, Trichoferus campestris and others. The introduction of the Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), pine shoot beetle (Tomicus piniperda), emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and other exotic pests now established in parts of North America can be linked to international shipments containing wood packaging materials.

In March 2002, the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention endorsed a standard prescribing uniform regulatory control of wood packaging materials moving in international commerce. This document titled: “ISPM #15, Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade” recognizes the inherent pest risks associated with the international movement of untreated wood packaging materials. Although this standard does not obligate countries to establish regulatory controls, the guideline represents a mechanism by which any country may establish regulatory controls in a manner that is internationally harmonized and transparent. This Canadian import policy reflects the guidelines established in ISPM #15.

This policy does not regulate wood packaging materials originating in the US. As prescribed in ISPM #15, Canada has established bilateral phytosanitary measures with the US. Additionally, existing phytosanitary import measures applying to forest products produced in the US provides sufficient phytosanitary protection to Canada.

Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms

All definitions contained within the Plant Protection Act and Plant Protection Regulations; the North American Plant Protection Organization, Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms, August 15, 1999; within the International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures, Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms, ISPM, Pub. No. 5, 1999 and within Amendments to the Glossary of Phytosanitary Terms, October 31, 2000 are included in this document.

1.0 General Requirements

1.1 Legislative Authority

Plant Protection Act, S.C. 1990, c.22
Plant Protection Regulations, S.O.R./95-212
The Plant Protection Cost Recovery Fees Order, S.O.R./98-161

1.2 Fees

The CFIA is charging fees in accordance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice. For information regarding fees associated with imported products, please contact the Import Service Centres (ISC) at the following phone numbers: Eastern ISC 1-877-493-0468; Central ISC 1-800-835-4486; Western ISC 1-888-732-6222. Anyone requiring other information regarding fees may contact any local CFIA office or visit the CFIA web site.

1.3 Regulated Pests

Numerous. The following are examples of quarantine pests regulated by Canada:

Insects

Asian longhorned beetle (Anaplophora glaberpennis)
Bark beetles (Ips typographus, Hylastes ater, Tomicus piniperda)
Boring beetles (Tetropium castaneum, Tetropium fuscum, Trichoferus campestris, Monochamus alternatus, Monochamus sp.)
Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire))
Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar, Asian biotype)
Mulberry whit-spotted longicorn (Anaplophora chinensis)
Nun moth (Lymantria monacha)
Rosy gypsy moth (Lymatria mathura)
Wood boring wasps (Sirex noctilio)

Pathogens

Watermark disease of willow (Erwinia salicis)
Bacterial canker of poplar (Xanthomonas populi)
An unnamed disease affecting alder in Europe (Phytophthora sp.)
Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum)
Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma ulmi, O. novo-ulmi)

Any other pest associated with wood packaging materials listed in Canada's list of regulated pests. Canada's list of regulated pests may be obtained on the world wide web.

1.4 Regulated Commodities

Wood packaging materials constructed from the wood of any plant species that are not manufactured, including dunnage, pallets, spacers, bearers, crating, etc.

Note: wood packaging materials used for the transport of lumber are also regulated by this policy. However, logs, wood with bark attached, lumber, wood chips, bark chips, bamboo products, decorative wood items, cones without seed and other forest product imports are regulated by policy directive D-02-12.

1.5 Commodities Exempt

All wood packaging materials constructed entirely from manufactured wood including: dunnage, pallets, spacers, bearers, crating, etc. All wood packaging materials constructed of wood of less than 6mm in thickness or from peeler cores.

Wood packing constructed from particles such as: sawdust, wood shavings, wood wool, etc.

1.6 Regulated Areas

All countries other than the continental US.

2.0 Specific Requirements

2.1 Entry of Untreated Non-manufactured Wood packaging materials

The importation or movement in-transit through Canada of untreated non-manufactured wood packaging materials from any area of world excluding the continental US is prohibited.

The importation of untreated non-manufactured wood packaging materials originating from areas other than the continental US but transiting through the continental US and entering Canada is prohibited.

2.2 Entry of Treated Non-manufactured Wood packaging materials

A Permit to Import is not required.

A Phytosanitary Certificate is not required. A Phytosanitary Certificate may be used as an alternative to the marking systems prescribed below.

All non-manufactured wood packaging materials (as defined in section 1.4) may enter Canada provided the material has been officially treated by one of the methods specified in Appendix 1. A logo or mark, officially endorsed by the NPPO of the country from which the wood packaging materials originates must be permanently affixed to each unit of wood packaging materials. More details on the mark are provided in Appendix 2. A Phytosanitary Certificate may be used in lieu of a logo or mark as prescribed above.

Replacement wood used in reconditioned wood packaging materials must be treated prior to export by a facility endorsed by the NPPO of the exporting country. The official mark of the facility conducting the treatment of the replacement wood must be affixed to the wood packaging materials.

The NPPO of the country from which the wood packaging materials originates must have a certification system in place for the approval and monitoring of facilities producing wood packaging materials to meet international standards. This certification system must ensure that the wood packaging materials or wood used in re-conditioned wood packaging materials are treated in accordance with one of the methods specified in Appendix 1. Facilities must be approved by the NPPO to affix a mark to the treated wood packaging materials. The system of marking must conform to the specifications laid out in Appendix 2. The NPPO must arrange to provide to CFIA on regular basis an updated list of facilities endorsed by the NPPO (e.g. a NPPO may arrange to provide a web-site address where lists are maintained).

Importers may determine eligible shippers of wood packaging materials by contacting a local office of the CFIA.

Until September 16^th, 2005, the CFIA, will permit the entry of wood packaging materials from countries that do not have certification systems in place. The wood packaging materials must have been treated in accordance with the specifications in Appendix 1 and must be accompanied by a document officially endorsed by the NPPO of the country producing the wood packaging materials. The document must identify the treatment that has been applied to the wood packaging materials, the date treatment was applied, the signature and date of the certifying official of the NPPO and the nature of the product accompanying the wood packaging materials. Arrangements regarding the types of documents to be used and the type of endorsement to be applied must be made available to the CFIA prior to any wood packaging materials certified in this manner entering Canada.

3.0 Inspection Requirements

CFIA inspection staff will inspect imports containing wood packaging materials at a rate specified within CFIA operational work plans. Inspectors will verify that wood packaging materials are marked appropriately or accompanied by appropriate certification documents and that the wood packaging material does not contain any pests or signs of living pests.

4.0 Non Compliance

Any regulated material found to be in non-compliance with the import requirements specified above may be ordered removed from Canada. Other penalties applicable under Canadian Food Inspection Agency Acts may be imposed.

4.1 Enforcement during a Phase-in Period

Canada is harmonizing import legislation with other countries of the North American continent to ensure that trade disruption is minimized. As such, until September 16^th 2005, a CFIA inspector may permit the entry of non-compliant wood packaging provided the material is free of pests and diseases and/or signs of pests and diseases.

During this transition period only, should signs of pests or symptoms of disease be found, non-compliant wood packaging materials may be permitted to be moved to a facility that safely disposes or processes the wood packaging materials in accordance with the conditions specified in Appendix 3. The CFIA must determine that this movement of non-compliant wood packaging materials is both practically feasible and does not constitute a biological risk to introducing a pest to Canada. Any costs incurred in the disposition of non-compliant wood packaging materials are the responsibility of the person or entity in care and control of the non-compliant wood packaging materials. The facility disposing or processing the non-compliant wood packaging materials must have completed an “Application for Participation in the Non-Compliant Wood packaging materials Disposal or Processing Program” (Appendix 4) and this application must have been approved by an inspector of the CFIA prior to the non-compliant wood packaging materials being granted entry to Canada.

Additionally, during this interim period, to ensure that pests associated with untreated ship borne dunnage are controlled, all non-compliant loose wood dunnage must be held on board the marine vessel or at the port area in a container secured against the escape of pests (e.g. a closed disposal bin) until inspected by the CFIA or removed from Canada. Failure to hold dunnage appropriately may result in additional enforcement measures being applied to the person or entity responsible for care and control of the dunnage. Alternatively, the CFIA may permit non-compliant dunnage to enter and be moved to a facility that safely disposes or processes the wood packaging materials in accordance with the conditions specified in Appendix 3. The port facility or parties responsible for the marine vessel offloading the dunnage must obtain a movement certificate ( as specified in Appendix 5) that permits the movement of the dunnage to a CFIA approved disposal or processing facility. The disposal or processing facility must have completed an “Application for Participation in the Non-Compliant Wood Packaging Materials Disposal or Processing Program” (Appendix 4) and this application must have been approved by an inspector of the CFIA prior to the non-compliant wood packaging materials being granted entry to Canada.

Port facilities and ship’s agents unable to comply with these requirements must ensure that non-compliant loose wood dunnage is not discharged into Canada. Failure to comply with the requirements may result in stringent enforcement measures being applied to the person or entity responsible for care and control of the dunnage, including Canadian agents acting on behalf of the marine vessel, the master or officers of the marine vessel, port authorities or those contracted to handle the dunnage.

Any movement of non-compliant wood packaging materials must be authorized by the CFIA on movement certificates issued to the person or entity having care and control of the non-compliant item. Facilities may be permitted to move multiple shipments of non-compliant wood packaging materials on a master movement certificate issued to the facility (a sample is contained in Appendix 5). Movement certificates shall specify the location and the specific conditions by which the wood packaging materials may be moved.

4.2 Enforcement following the Phase-in Period

Following the transition period specified in Section 4.1, any non-compliant wood packaging materials (including loose wood dunnage) entering Canada may be ordered removed from Canada. Additional enforcement measures may be applied to importers or those persons or entities in care and control of non-compliant wood packaging.

Permitting the entry of non-compliant wood packaging results in increased risks of pest establishment in Canada and increased uses of pesticide treatments including methyl bromide to remove associated pests. Canada is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol and is taking steps to reduce its overall use of methyl bromide. However, to ensure that wood packaging does not pose a risk for the entry of a pest, the CFIA may order treatment of non-compliant wood packaging prior to it ordered removed from Canada.

All costs incurred in the disposition of non-compliant wood packaging are the responsibility of the person or entity in care and control of the non-compliant wood packaging materials at the time of entry to Canada (including port or berthing facilities receiving untreated dunnage).

5.0 List of Appendices

Appendix 1 - Approved Methods of Treatment for Entry into Canada
Appendix 2 - Systems Acceptable for the Marking of Treated Wood packaging materials
Appendix 3 - Methods For The Disposal or Processing of Non-compliant Wood packaging materials
Appendix 4 - Application for Participation in the Non-Compliant Wood Packaging Materials Disposal and Processing Program
Appendix 5 - Sample of Certificate Authorizing Movement of Non-Compliant Wood Packaging

Appendix 1

APPROVED METHODS OF TREATMENT FOR ENTRY INTO CANADA

1. Heat Treatment

All wood packaging materials material must be heated to a minimum internal wood core temperature of 56°C for 30 minutes. Kiln-drying, chemical pressure impregnation, or other treatments may be used as a means of achieving heat treatment provided that the above temperature and time requirements are met.

OR

2. Fumigation

Wood may be fumigated with methyl bromide at normal atmospheric pressure at the following rates:

OR

3 Other Treatment Methods

The CFIA may approve other treatment measures, if it can be proven that such measures are effective in minimizing the risk of quarantine pests associated with untreated wood packaging materials. Importers should contact a local office of the CFIA to enquire about the use of other treatments. All costs associated with the verification that an alternative treatment method is effective in precluding pest movement into Canada, must be borne by the importer.

Appendix 2

SYSTEMS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE MARKING OF
TREATED WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS

Wood packaging material that has been treated by one of the methods specified in Appendix 1 and in a manner that is officially endorsed by the NPPO of the country from which the wood packaging materials originates may be permitted entry into Canada provided the wood packaging materials material is marked as follows:

1. The mark must at minimum include:

• the IPPC symbol for treated wood packaging materials (as per Annex II of the "International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures #15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood packaging materials Material in International Trade") as reproduced here.

  

  Where XX represents the International Standards Organization two letter country code for the country in which the wood packaging is produced and 000 represents the official certification number issued to the facility producing the compliant wood packaging by the National Plant Protection Organization and YY represents the treatment carried out (e.g. HT for heat treated wood or MB for methyl bromide treated wood).

• Any other marking system provided by the NPPO of the country in which the wood packaging materials is produced, provided a template of the officially endorsed symbol has been provided to the CFIA prior to any shipments being received.

2. NPPOs or producers may at their discretion add control numbers or other information used for identifying specific lots. Other information may also be included provided it is not confusing, misleading, or deceptive.

3. Markings should be:

• legible
• permanent and not transferable (tags are not allowed)
• placed in a visible location on at least two opposite sides of the article being certified.

4. The colors: red or orange should be avoided.

5. Reconditioned wood packaging materials must be treated and contain the marks of the facility approved to perform the re-treatment.

Appendix 3

METHODS FOR THE DISPOSAL OR PROCESSING OF
NON-COMPLIANT WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS

1. Methods for the Disposal or Processing of Non-compliant Wood packaging materials

CFIA may permit the movement, disposal or processing of non-compliant wood packaging materials provided that facilities capable of meeting the standards prescribed herein exist to conduct the disposal or processing. All costs incurred in the certification, inspection, monitoring, transport, disposal and/or processing of wood packaging materials must be absorbed by the person or entity in care and control of the wood packaging materials at the time of entry into Canada. The material must be disposed of or processed in a manner that prevents the entry or introduction of pests into Canada. The following methods may be used to dispose or process non-compliant wood packaging materials:

• incineration or

• deep burial within a period prescribed by an inspector but not exceeding 3 days to a depth of no less than three metres that will not be disturbed, (non-compliant wood packaging materials must be immediately covered with soil/dirt) or,

• heat treatment or kiln drying or;

• fumigation as specified in Appendix 1 may be used where the threat of imminent pest escape into the Canadian environment is present or;

• processing to produce wood by-products such as wood dust, wood mulch (where the mulch is not to be distributed into the environment as a soil additive), wood fuel, paper mulch, recycled fibre wood and oriented strand board or;

• other methods as approved by CFIA.

2. Storage of Non-Compliant Wood Packaging Materials While Awaiting Disposal or Processing

Any non-compliant wood packaging materials must be, at all times stored in a closed container that is effective in preventing pests from entering into the environment. Storage areas of non-compliant wood packaging materials must be isolated from other domestic wood commodities, material that has already undergone processing and adjacent forested lands by no less than 30 metres. Storage is only permitted until the material can be appropriately disposed or processed as specified in 1 above. An inspector will specify the time limit for storage on a Movement Certificate issued to the person or entity in care and control of the wood packaging material.

3. Transportation of Non-compliant Wood Packaging Materials from Point of Entry to the Site of Disposal or Processing

Regardless of the process (described in section 1 of Appendix 3) by which non-compliant wood packaging materials is to be handled, the material may only be moved, by a transporter that is approved by CFIA as specified on a Movement Certificate issued to the person or entity in care and control of the non-compliant wood packaging materials. The wood must be moved in a closed container directly to the site at which disposal or processing is going to take place.

4. Specific Requirements for Disposal or Processing

Facilities storing, disposing or processing non-compliant wood packaging materials by the methods described in Section 1 of Appendix 3 must comply with the following specifications:

• The designated facility undertaking disposal or processing must have completed an Application for Participation as specified in Appendix 4. This application, if accepted by CFIA, shall be signed by an inspector confirming the facility’s participation in the program. Until the facility is approved, non-compliant imported wood packaging materials may not be moved to the facility.

• Designated facilities must undertake all disposal or processing in a Canadian establishment designated on the Application for Participation

• Designated facilities must afford CFIA staff full co-operation for the purposes of carrying out audits, inspection, sample collection, product inspections, interviews of staff, etc.

• A designated facility must have in its employ sufficient competent staff to undertake the requirements specified here and in the Application for Participation.

• CFIA will only permit deep burial, if the non-compliant wood packaging materials material is buried at a minimum depth of 3 metres (must be covered with 3 metres of soil). The wood must be buried at a site where the re-excavation of the material will not occur and where any covenants required on land title to ensure that re-excavation does not occur can be completed. Wood must not be left exposed within the burial pit.

• Any wood packaging materials that is not processed including secondary products produced during processing must be disposed of in the manner approved by a CFIA inspector as specified in the Application for Participation in the Non-compliant Wood packaging materials Disposal and Processing Program (Appendix 3).

• The period in which disposal or processing may be carried out may be extended by a CFIA inspector, provided the designated facility has additional mechanisms to mitigate the distribution of pests or there exists environmental conditions which preclude the distribution of pests (e.g. periods may be extended during the winter in some parts of the country). A CFIA inspector will provide in writing the period by which disposal or processing must be completed.

• Designated facilities must immediately notify a local CFIA office upon the detection of any unusual pests on non-compliant wood packaging materials at the disposal or processing facility.

• The designated facility must maintain records pertaining to the handling, storage, processing or disposal of non-compliant wood packaging for a minimum of 2 years.

Appendix 4

APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION AS A DESIGNATED FACILITY IN THE NON-COMPLIANT
WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS DISPOSAL AND PROCESSING PROGRAM

Appendix 5

SAMPLE OF CERTIFICATE AUTHORIZING MOVEMENT OF
NON-COMPLIANT WOOD PACKAGING

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