In June, the UK's pallet and packaging advisory association, Pallet Link, advised its members that the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) in China were intercepting export consignments from Europe because articles of WPM (pallets, crates, etc.) were being found to have country codes within the ISPM15 mark that did not relate to the country of re-export.
There had been a misinterpretation of the ISPM15 regulations following an incident, last month, in which a German (DE) marked pallet which had been air-freighted to China from Austria (AT) was deemed to be non-compliant.
In an EC statement seen by PN, the EC said: "AQSIQ agrees with the EU interpretation of ISPM15, they will issue a notice to CIQs to clarify that wood packaging material ISPM compliant can be accepted even if its origin is not from the country of expedition. EU should signal problems if they remain."
The EC said that UK exporters are asked to note that the problem has been resolved but that they should continue to report any instances where barriers to export of compliant ISPM15 wood packaging material remain in China.
Good news
Speaking to PN, Federation of Wooden Pallets and Packaging Manufacturers president Gil Govey said: "This incident and its timely resolution demonstrates the importance of trade bodies and regulators being vigilant in monitoring the implementation of ISPM15 so as to avoid unnecessary trade barriers appearing, and where this occurs immediate action is taken to challenge them.
"The European wooden pallet and packaging industry is committed to complying with ISPM15 in order to protect the world's forests and it is vital that all countries interpret the regulations on a consistent basis. Wooden pallets and packaging is vital to the flow of world trade and continues to be the most economic and environmentally sound packaging solution."
Background
At present, timber pallets travelling between over 170 different countries must now be specially heat-treated and officially accredited in accordance with the international regulation ISPM15, which covers the import and export of pallets.
The Forestry Commission Plant Health Service was alerted to the issue that the AQSIQ were seizing goods exported on wood packaging, last month, by a major international freight forwarding company.
According to Pallet Link, the incident appeared to be a result of a 'difference of opinion' over the guidance for re-use of WPM. The ISPM15 regulations indicate that re-treatment and re-marking of WPM is only required when shipping from one country to another if the WPM has been repaired, but Chinese AQSIQ officials argued that WPM must be re-treated and re-marked in the country of re-export, regardless of the original treatment and markings.
'Simple answer'
Speaking about the ISPM15 issue, Goplasticpallets.com managing director Jim Hardisty said: "Failure to comply with the internationally-recognised ISPM15 heat treatment standards can be costly for exporters using wooden pallets.
"Non-compliance can lead to confiscated goods, missed delivery deadlines, and in some instances hefty fines. Goods exported on wooden pallets can be stopped if the pallet's ISPM15 mark is scuffed, if the pallet has surface blemishes, if it's been repaired and not retreated, and following this incident, wooden pallets can also be intercepted if the ISPM15 marking does not relate to the country of re-export.
"There is a simple answer to the ISPM15 chaos: use plastic pallets. With international shipping costs to the US and Asia running at well over 2,000 pounds per 1,000kg pallet, it makes sense to invest an extra 2 pounds or 3 pounds per pallet – often a tiny fraction of the value of the goods being exported – and buy plastic."
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