Commercial Information Circulars
24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref : CR EIC 111/2/12/1
4 October 2005
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 405/2005
US : Importation of Regulated Wood Packaging Material (WPM)
Commercial Information Circular No. 233/2004 dated 22 September 2004 informed the trade that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of US Department of Agriculture had published the final regulations for importation of unmanufactured WPM into the US. The US, together with Mexico and Canada, will begin enforcement of the International Standards for Phytosanitory Measures (ISPM) standard for regulated WPM entering North America on 16 September 2005. In connection with the implementation of the regulations, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced a phased-in compliance enforcement plan.
DETAILS
- According to CBP's announcement, enforcement of the regulations will be conducted in three phases:-
| Phase | Enforcement Details |
|---|---|
|
Phase I (16 September 2005 - 31 January 2006) |
For shipments with WPM present but are not marked as having been treated, the broker and the importer will be informed of the non-compliance and given notice. There will be no stoppage or re-export of shipments for non-compliant WPM. |
|
Phase II (1 February 2006 - 4 July 2006) |
All shipments containing violative pallets or crates will be ordered for re-export if it is not feasible to separate the merchandise from the violative WPM.For shipments with other types of WPM present but are not marked as having been treated, the broker and the importer will be informed of the non-compliance and given notice. There will be no stoppage or re-export of shipments for other types of non-compliant WPM. |
|
Phase III (Beginning 5 July 2006) |
Full enforcement on all types of WPM. |
-
In addition, the announcement has also provided clarifications regarding non-regulated and exempt wood and wood products. For details of the enforcement plan and related information, traders are advised to visit CBP's website: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/.
- As set out in the previous Commercial Information Circulars, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has put in place a marking system to regulate WPM in shipments to our major trading partners. AFCD has also prepared a fact sheet on the implementation of the ISPM No. 15 for WPM setting out the relevant details. The fact sheet will be updated from time to time and traders are encouraged to obtain the latest version at http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/publications/publications_qua/files/ispm15_20050729_e.pdf
ENQUIRIES
- For further information on the complementary measures implemented by the AFCD, please contact the AFCD at 2150 7000. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.
Yours faithfully,
(Amanda Kwong)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry
Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.