What’s Bugging Pallet Suppliers?

On Aug. 27, the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), released a notice of proposed rulemaking and requested public comments regarding options for controlling the spread of plant pests in wood packaging material (WPM) used in domestic commerce. APHIS specifically mentions risks to U.S. forests and agriculture posed by the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle. APHIS also intends to prepare an environmental impact statement.

Currently, APHIS requires WPM used to import material into the U.S. to be treated with heat or fumigation with methyl bromide and marked with specific symbols used by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The IPPC developed the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM-15), which regulates the movement of WPM in international commerce.

The USDA currently authorizes the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) to execute and monitor the U.S. fumigation program, while the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) executes and monitors the U.S. heat-treatment program. APHIS, ALSC and the wood packaging industry are working together on a program requiring heat-treated wood packaging material to be marked with the ISPM-15 symbol, often called a “bug stamp.” The mark signifies compliance with the ISPM-15 standard.

APHIS is now considering options for regulating the movement of WPM within the U.S. A nationwide standard is needed, according to APHIS, because current rules encompass a variety of domestic quarantine notices for specific pests and regulated articles, quarantined areas and conditions governing the interstate movement of regulated articles from quarantined areas.

“The variety of requirements creates a regulatory framework that may create confusion and present challenges to industry and stakeholder compliance,” says APHIS.

“As a result, we are exploring the development of uniform measures to govern interstate movement of all WPM in order to provide greater ease of comprehension and compliance. This action is supported by various WPM industry groups.”

Among other alternatives, APHIS is considering extending the ISPM-15 international requirements to wood packaging material used for interstate commerce. Another option proposed by APHIS is pallet pooling. “Pooled pallets are constructed from a higher grade of wood than traditional pallets, with strict specifications pertaining to such factors as species of tree and source location,” says APHIS. “Combining IPPC treatments with pallet pooling may provide sufficient mitigation of the pest risk associated with wood packaging material moving domestically in the U.S.”

APHIS is holding four public meetings “to discuss mitigation measures that could be applied to WPM (e.g., crates, dunnage, wooden spools, pallets, packing blocks) used in domestic commerce to decrease the risk of the artificial spread of plant pests such as the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorned beetle.”

The first two meetings were held Aug. 27 in Washington and Sept. 2 in Portland, Ore. The final meetings are set for Sept. 15 in Houston and Sept. 29 in Grand Rapids, Mich.