Article from Modern Materials Handling suggests bi-lateral exemption on treated pallets may be ending in 2014.
An interesting story recently came out in MMH reflecting a potentially longer timeline than previously thought on required compliance with international shipping regulations regarding treatment of wood products used for shipping between USA and Canada. Bob Trebilcock, editor at Modern material Handling has been questioned by leading manufacturers who ship from the United States into Canada asking whether they will have to treat their pallets and if so, when.
The questions are directed to Trebilcock, to get clarification on a proposal posted in late December 2010 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS.) That original proposal would remove the exemption from ISPM 15 on wood packaging material moving between Canada and the United States in both directions beginning in 2011.
“Right now, we’re the only jurisdiction in the world that has this bi-lateral agreement not to require treated pallets between our two countries,” Eggertson of the Canadian Wood Pallet and Container Association is quoted as saying in the article. Given that an estimated 300 million pallets pass back and forth each year between the two countries, it’s a big deal.
Of course here at LITCO, we are ready for ISPM 15 Certified Pallet regulations because we have been supplying US companies with these international-safe shipping pallets for years.
