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	Listed below you will find proposed implementation dates by country for the adoption of IPPC's ISPM 15 Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade. This information has been provided by the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association.
	European Union (EU)
	Last September, we informed you about the European Commissions release of its draft directive on imported plant or plant products including WPM. The draft is now a commission directive that all 25 EU Nations will be implementing.
	In the directive, regulated WPM shall be made from debarked round wood and subject to heat treatment or methyl bromide fumigation and marked accordingly with the ISPM 15 mark. Dunnage must be made from bark-free round wood, free from pests and signs of live pests, and ISPM 15 compliant.
	Regarding implementation date(s), EU will require ISPM 15 compliance on new WPM starting March 1, 2005. WPM already in circulation or in storage is not required to be treated and marked until December 21, 2007.
	Mexico
	Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturale's (SEMARNAT) released its final rule on import and export WPM. The rule states that imported WPM must be ISPM 15 compliant starting July 1, 2005, however, it was presented during the recent North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) meeting that it will be enforced in September 2005.
	*The debarking and bark-free requirements are not consistent with ISPM 15 and the implementation date(s) of the EU and Mexico are confusing. NWPCA is working to get the bark-related requirements dropped and will also clarify the implementation dates.
	Nigeria
	Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service is now enforcing their import requirements for imported WPM. Nigeria will accept the ISPM 15 mark in lieu of the phytosanitary certificate as stated in their regulation which took effect September 30, 2004.
	Costa Rica
	Costa Rica's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has notified WTO of its intent to adopt ISPM 15 in their regulations for imported WPM. Implementation date is January 1, 2005.
	Turkey
	v    The General Directorate of Protection and Control of Turkey is proposing to implement ISPM 15 starting January 1, 2005. Similar to the EU, Turkeys import requirements for regulated WPM requires debarking.
	Australia
	As posted last month, Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) has announced its amended import requirements for solid wood packaging; those requirements took effect September 1, 2004.
	ISPM 15 compliant wood packaging is accepted for shipment to Australia under the following conditions:
	v     Heat treated at 56°C for at least 30 minutes OR fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with the ISPM 15 stamp.
	v     Bark-free
	v     Include a packing declaration (Note: declaration for ISPM 15 compliant solid wood packaging must be submitted per consignment, an annual declaration is not acceptable). The NWPCA website will be posting a sample declaration next week, look for it in the section: Resource Center, Legislation/Regulations, Australia.
	The following are no longer necessary for wood packaging to be compliant under ISPM 15 in Australia:
	v     Treatment certificate (provided that the packing declaration indicates ISPM 15 compliance).
	v     Satisfy the 21-day requirement (no more time limit between treatment and packing)
	If wood packaging is not marked as ISPM 15 compliant:
	v     The 21-day rule for non-permanent treatment methods (e.g. heat sterilization, fumigation) does apply, and
	v     A treatment certificate AND packing declaration are required.
	Brazil
	Brazil is not yet requiring ISPM 15 compliant WPM originating from the U.S. Their import requirement based on ISPM 15 only applies to countries that have notified WTO and the Brazilian government of their adoption of ISPM 15.
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