Commercial Information Circulars
24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref : CR EIC 191/2/6
14 October 2005
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 424/2005
Canada : Importation of Regulated Wood Packaging Material (WPM)
Commercial Information Circular No. 405/2005 dated 4 October 2005 informed the trade of the US' phased-in plan for enforcing the International Standards for Phytosanitory Measures (ISPM) standard. Recently, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has also announced its staged implementation plan for regulation of WPM entering Canada.
DETAILS
- Enforcement of the Canadian regulation will also be conducted in three phases:-
| Phase | Enforcement Details |
|---|---|
|
Phase I (16 September 2005 - 31 January 2006) |
Notices of non-compliance will continue to be issued to importers where no pests are found, but where shipments are non-compliant. Shipments with infested WPM will be refused entry with the exception of ship's dunnage. Ship's dunnage will be treated or disposed if non-compliant (i.e. with signs of living pests, no ISPM mark, or no phytosanitary certificate). |
|
Phase II (1 February 2006 - 4 July 2006) |
All shipments found to be have infested WPM, or that are lacking an ISPM mark or a phytosanitary certificate will be refused entry, whether or not signs of pests have been detected, with the exception of ship's dunnage. Non-compliant ship's dunnage will be treated or disposed. |
|
Phase III (Beginning 5 July 2006) |
All non-compliant WPM, including ship's dunnage, will be refused entry. |
More information on Canada's implementation of ISPM standard is available on the CFIA website:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/for/cwpc/wdpkge.shtml.
- 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.