CBP issues update to New Wood Packaging (WPM) Requirements on Imports from Canada

Issue 486, September 16, 2005

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued notification on a revision of its enforcement procedures regarding the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS') new wood packaging material (WPM) regulations that take effect today, September 16, 2005.

Commercial shipments containing WPM made entirely from Canadian origin wood or U.S. origin wood that are traveling between these two countries are subject to the inspection and must be accompanied by an importer declaration stating that they are derived totally from trees harvested in Canada or the U.S. Lacking the required declaration, any subject WPM contained within the shipment from Canada must bear the IPPC treatment marking.

Based on phone conversations with PPQ officers at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the importer declaration can be made on the commercial invoice or on a separate letterhead document. Additional information and clarifications are expected to be issued as they are released.

Customs has also provided the following additional information:

	USDA has grandfathered in all wine crates for vintage years preceding 2006. This means that wine crates for any wine with a vintage year through 2005 are exempt from treatment and marking requirements. Wines of vintage year 2006 and beyond will be required to be in crates that have been treated and marked.
	Articles of wood that are manufactured to transport a specific non-regulated commodity (for example, fuel gauges, armaments, ammo boxes, etc.) are not considered to be WPM and are not required to be treated and marked.
	WPM that is part of any bundle of imported lumber is exempted from the rule. Other WPM used in the transport of bundled lumber (for example, pallets or planks) are not exempted and are regulated WPM.
	There is no requirement for treatment or marking of WPM in domestic circulation.