Press Release

Jim Rogers	(202) 690-4755
Jerry Redding	(202) 720-6959

USDA AMENDS SOLID WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL IMPORTATION REGULATIONS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2004—The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending the regulations for the importation of unmanufactured wood articles.

The regulations will now incorporate international standards entitled, "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade," that were approved by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the International Plant Protection Convention on March 15, 2002.

The international standards call for wood packaging material to be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with an approved international mark certifying treatment. The treatment certification mark harmonizes the regulations and replaces country-by-country certifications.

Notice of this action was published in the Sept. 16 Federal Register and becomes effective Sept. 16, 2005. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

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