With Japan’s new import regulations on raw wood packaging and shipping materials taking effect April 1, Litco International announces its Inca presswood pallets are certified as totally free of plant pests.
Under the new international ISPM15-Standard regulations, those who ship into Japan with pallets and packaging materials made from raw wood must mark and treat their products according to the international standard. Companies that treat wood according to ISPM15 must be licensed by their national plant protection office.
Litco Vice President Gary A. Sharon said Inca presswood pallets are an approved exception to the regulations. Wood Packaging Material (WPM) made wholly of wood-based products such as plywood, particle board, oriented-strand board or veneer that have been manufactured with glue, heat and pressure or a combination of those processes fall outside the regulation and do not require the marking and treating that is mandated by the new ISPM15 regulations.
“Inca presswood pallets are particle board and thus require neither marking nor treating according to the new Japanese import regulation,” Sharon said. “To assist our customers in demonstrating our products’ fitness under the new regulations, we can provide a document that certifies the difference between regulated raw wood and our highly processed manufactured particle board Inca products.”
For Japanese customers and forwarding agents, Litco International can provide a “voluntarily issued manufacturer certificate.” While not a requirement, the Inca certification provides useful information to those who may have questions or concerns relating to the new ISPM15 standards.
Information on the ISPM15 standards and answers to questions relating to shipping materials’ compliance and the Inca products’ freedom from plant pests can be obtained from Litco International via telephone (330-539-5433) or email info@litco.com.
Litco International Inc., based in Vienna, Ohio, is North America’s leading source of presswood pallets. Made from pre- and post-consumer wood chips in a patented molding process, presswood pallets offer shippers a number of advantages over traditional wood pallets, including lower cost and lower weight. Litco also provides plastic pallets and a variety of other shipping products, including separator boards, core plugs, dunnage bags and void fill, as well as pallet management, leasing and other services. Litco was established in 1962 and operates facilities in Vienna and Dover, Ohio, and Sardis, Miss.
