The Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Programs for Export

Program updates and industry notices

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has instituted two export certification programs, the Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program (CWPCP), and the Canadian Heat Treatment Wood Products Certification Program (CHTWPCP) to certify Canadian wood packaging producers, Canadian wood packaging treatment facilities, and Facilities registered under the CHTWPCP, to produce ISPM No. 15 compliant wood packaging material.

Approved producers and treatment facilities will mark their products with an ISPM No. 15 compliant approved wood packaging certification stamp.

The CFIA approved wood packaging certification stamp can only be applied by a facility registered under one of these two programmes.

For more information on the CHTWPCP.

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Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program (CWPCP)

Policies and Manuals

• D-01-05 – The Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program for Export
• QSM-02 – Quality System Requirements For Facility Registration  under the CWPCP
• QSM-03 – Quality System Requirements for Service Provider approved under the CWPCP
• QSM-04 – Quality System Requirements for Service Provider Approved under the CHTWPCP
• QSM-05 – Quality System Requirements for CLSAB and CLSAB Accredited Agencies Approved under the CHTWPCP
• Questions and Answers

ISPM No. 15 Registered Facilities

• Facilities Registered to Produce ISPM No. 15 Compliant Wood Packaging Material including Dunnage
• International Wood Packaging Standard

CWPCP Facilities

• Registered Participants of the CWPCP
• Heat Treatment Facilities under the CWPCP
• CWPCP Application Form (CFIA/ACIA 5528)

CWPCP Service Provider

As of January 22, 2010, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has selected the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association (CWPCA-ACMPC) as the Service Provider for a one year term with an extra one year option for the delivery of the inspections and audit activities of facilities wishing to register or currently registered under the Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program (CWPCP), Policy Directive D-01-05.

Canadian Lumber Exported to the U.S. for the Construction of U.S. Wood Packaging

All Canadian lumber, either in bundles or custom cut (pre-cut) packages, exported to the U.S. to be used in a facility that produces wood packaging for export must meet the specifications of the non-manufactured wood packaging enforcement regulations of the American Lumber Standards Committee.

According to the American Lumber Standards Committee program, all Canadian or U.S. lumber, except as noted below, entering a U.S. wood packaging facility must be labeled HT or KD-HT under the supervision of any agency accredited by the Board of Review. Each board of the bundle must be stamped to identify the Grading Agency, the Facility Number and the treatment (HT or KD-HT).

However, when pieces are marked HT or KD-HT only, with no reference to grade, and the size of individual pieces is:

1. 30 inches or less in length; or
2. 1/2 inch nominal or less in thickness; or
3. 2 inches nominal or less in width, the HT or KD-HT mark shall be applied by stamping not less than 25% of the pieces of a bundle.

Units that are partially marked shall also be stenciled with the same information as indicated by the agency HT or KD-HT stamp.

Fumigation with Methyl Bromide

Canada is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol. The CFIA encourages using alternatives to ozone depleting chemicals. The CFIA will not be establishing a certification system for the export of wood packaging treated with methyl bromide as prescribed in the current version of D-01-05. This policy is under review presently.

However, the CFIA recognizes that the use of methyl bromide may be the only option for the certification of certain exports. Where this is the case, the exporter should contact the local office of the CFIA to determine the appropriate measures by which certification can be carried out. For additional information please see the Official CFIA Forestry Notice – Use of Methyl Bromide for the Export of Forest Products from Canada.

Additional Information

• 2011-02-14: Implementation of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (2009) for Wood Packaging Material Moving Between Canada and the United States