Heat-treating pallets: new rules on the way
by Rebecca Reid with files from MM&D
Shippers sending wood packaging materials such as pallets across the Canada-US border may soon be subject to heat-treating requirements.
Toronto—Shippers sending wood packaging materials such as pallets across the Canada-US border may soon be subject to heat-treating requirements.
Canada and the US currently exempt each other from the 2005 International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15 Regulation, which requires shippers to heat sanitize wood pallets and packaging to prevent the transmission of Asian Long-Horned Beetle and other pests.
The requirements currently apply to wood packaging and pallets entering Canada from all countries except the Continental US.
In return, the US exempts wood pallets from Canada. But both countries agreed to eventually expire the exemption and discussions are starting to gain momentum.
According to the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), no timeline has been set yet, and companies will be given time to prepare.
MM&D hosted a live Webinar in May titled, Into the Fire: Learn about pending changes to cross-border pallet rules.
Now the Webinar, moderated by MM&D editor, Carolyn Gruske is available for viewing.
Bill Eggertson, executive general manager of the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association, spoke about the changes business will have to make in order to continue shipping goods to the US.
After the formal presentation, a long and lively Q&A session followed. Among the questions asked and answered were:
• How is CBP / CRA going to enforce this? When
you pull a truck over for inspection will it have to be
de-stuffed?
• Where do we find the list of facilities that are certified
to heat treat pallets?
• How much do you expect it will cost to re-certify the
pallets?
Click here for a summary of the Webinar: Pallet standards are changing.
