New phytosanitary (plant health) restrictions pose a major challenge to international exporters. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standard requires treatment of all non-manufactured wood packaging materials, including both coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood). Australia, New Zealand, China, and Mexico have already implemented the standard. The United States and Canada will implement it in May. And the European Union will do so in July.
From this point on, anyone who ships products to another country in untreated lumber packaging is taking a risk. If the country follows the IPPC standard (perhaps exceeding it, as Australia does), it will turn back the shipment until all lumber packaging has been heat treated, fumigated, or pressure impregnated with an approved chemical.
AIRDEX Pallets: Exempt from phytosanitary restrictions
The European Union recently implemented new phytosanitary restrictions on coniferous solid wood packaging material originating from China, Japan, Canada, and the United States. These regulations are limited to nonmanufactured softwood lumber. In addition, a new standard proposed by the Interim Commission for Phytosanitary Measures of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization regulates any unprocessed raw wood (hardwood and softwood species) used in packaging. Packaging materials made entirely from processed manufactured wood (plywood, OSB, LVL, etc.) are exempt from this new standard. AIRDEX pallets do not require heat-treating, fumigation, or the specific labeling required of lumber pallets.
ISPM-15 Compliance
Under this United Nations regulation, all "first-world" nations have agreed to restrict the use of wood products in international trade (import-export) in a combined effort to reduce infestation of boring beetles, aphids and other potentially destructive insects. The AIRDEX Pallet represents a 100% guarantee of compliance with this environmentally protective initiative by providing a pallet that contains no food sources or natural habitat for these or any other insects. The full Jacketed coating used by AIRDEX also has no crack, crevices, or nesting areas for insects and is fully washable.
Phytosanitary Issues Management - USDA United States Department of Agriculture
In effort to display how organized and serious the issue of industry regulations, we are displaying this organization chart for you. PIM of Plant Protection and Quarantine has primary responsibility to manage, address, and help resolve technical phytosanitary and biotechnology trade issues. Published with permission.
