| Commercial Information Circulars
Ref : CR EIC 230/2/13
22 December
1998
Dear Sirs,
Commercial
Information Circular No. 164/98
United
Kingdom (UK) : Control on Asian Longhorn Beetles (ALB) in Wooden Packing
Materials Originating in the Mainland of China
The Trade Department
received information that the UK has decided to introduce emergency measures
to control the introduction of ALB into its territory. The new measures
will be applied to wooden packing materials originating in the mainland
of China which arrive in the UK on or after 1 February 1999.
DETAILS
| 2. |
As a result
of evidence of ALB in wooden packing materials originating in the
mainland of China, the UK Forestry Commission has decided to implement
emergency measures to prevent the further introduction of ALB into
the UK by amending the Plant Health (Forestry) Order. Under the
Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) Order, wood*, in the form of
packing cases, crates, drums, pallets, box pallets or load boards,
dunnage, spacers and bearers, including wood which has not kept
its natural round surface, originating in the mainland of China
(excluding Hong Kong) which arrive in the UK on or after 1 February
1999 shall be subject to restrictions as follows -
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| (a) |
the wood
shall be stripped of its bark and free from grub holes which
are larger than 3mm across, or
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| (b)
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the wood
shall have undergone kiln-drying to below 20% moisture content
expressed as a percentage of dry matter, at the time of manufacture,
achieved through an appropriate time/temperature schedule.
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| 3.
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The Department
understands that there would be no requirement for consignments
to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate or other form of
documentation. The emergency measures would not be applicable to
packing materials comprising plywood or other reconstituted wood
products. For cases of non-compliance, the UK authorities may require
the removal of the infested wooden packing material from the consignment
and its destruction or resort to other measures as appropriate under
the UK law.
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IMPLICATION FOR HONG KONG
| 4. |
The emergency
measures will not be applied to wooden packing materials originating
in Hong Kong. However, Hong Kong, like any other places, will be
affected if traders use wooden packing materials originating in
the mainland of China.
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ENQUIRIES
| 5. |
For enquires
concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned
at telephone number 2398 5684.
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Yours faithfully,
(Miss Helen YUNG)
for Director-General
of Trade
| Convenient
and efficient enquiry service - please use Trade Department 24 hours
General Enquiry Hotline 2392 2922. |
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.
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