Update - Wood Packing Materials Regulation Enforcement

Issue 510, February 3, 2006

 

Phase II of the USDA Wood Packing Materials (WPM) regulations enforcement began on February 1st.

Under Phase II, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) will begin full enforcement of the ban on violative WPM pallets and crates. All pallets and crates found during cargo examination by CBP to lack the required International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo stamp will be considered violative*. CBP will order immediate re-export of all shipments containing violative pallets and crates. Fumigation will not be an option for violative pallets and crates.

Under Phase II, CBP will continue informed compliance for the regulated WPM other than pallets or crates. WPM, other than pallets or crates, found during cargo examination by CBP to lack the proper IPPC logo stamp will be flagged with a copy of the Cargo Notice in a prominent location on the goods*. This document will notify the broker and the recipient/consignee that a violation has occurred, but that CBP has chosen to temporarily exercise its enforcement discretion.

CBP will discontinue informed compliance efforts at the shipment level under Phase III, which will begin on July 5, 2006.

*Please note there are enforcement exclusions for shipments arriving into the U.S. from Canada.

For additional information on the WPM regulations, visit the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service website at- http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/wpm/import.html

Our contributing writer Paul E. Vroman is our Customs Compliance Consultant. He is a Licensed Customs Broker and NCBFAA Certified Customs Specialist. He can be reached at

 

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