ReleaseWire

Brief Understanding of the ISPM No. 15 Standard for the Fumigation of Import/Export Wood Packaging

The ISPM NO. 15 is the standard that governs over the treatment and de-infestation of imported and exported material for ridding these materials form pests. This includes the treating of wood, especially of raw wood, whether it is the main trade material or the packaging. An exception to this is wood that has been processed and rid of pests like plywood.

Posted: Monday, November 07, 2011 at 11:32 AM CST

La Porte, TX -- (SBWire) -- 11/07/2011 --Under the ISPM NO. 15, heat treatment and methyl bromide treatment are the two presently approved treatments for the stopping and prevention of infestation of pests. As such, All World Fumigations strictly comply with the standards set under the regulation mentioned.

International trade, whether to or from the United States, are bound by regulations including the ISPM NO. 15 if wooden packaging more than 6mm thick is used. All World Fumigation is accredited to executing fumigation of imports when called for. The exception if the proper mark is presence that renders fumigation unneeded as it has been carried out in the country of origin. When it comes to exporting wood products or materials in wood packaging, the company strictly follows the regulations and requirements set under ISPM NO. 15.

What is the ISPM NO. 15 and what does it entail? This regulations states the parameters of phytosanitary measures that are necessary to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of pest when the trading internationally wood and wood packaging. These pests impact negatively on forest health and biodiversity when introduced to a new land. The ISPM NO. 15 was created for the reducing of the significant outbreak of the pest and the negative impacts associated with said pests. The standard covers wood packaging material such as raw wood and dunnage but excludes processed wood that has been freed from pests like plywood.

Approved Treatments under the ISPM NO. 15:
Fumigation must be done for all raw wood exported from the United States. For export materials that are to be encased in wood packaging, the wood packaging must be made of debarked wood no matter the type of treatment to be applied. The presence of bark on the wood may hinder the effectiveness of the methyl bromide treatment but not a heat treatment.

Heat Treatment (HT) – The standard requires that wood packaging material must be heated at a specific temperature for a specific duration of time. The minimum temperature needed is 56 degrees Celsius for a minimum time of 30 continuous minutes. Heat treatment must be applied throughout the entire profile of the wood which includes its core. Examples of such treatments are kiln-drying, heat-enabled chemical pressure impregnation, microwave, etc.

Methyl Bromide Treatment (MB) – The standard has set the parameters in which methyl bromide treatment complies to. It sets the values of a schedule that follows the minimum concentration-time product (CT).This CT must be successfully achieved throughout the wood which includes the core. Values of temperature, concentration and duration can be found under the standard of ISPM No. 15. Currently, methyl bromide is the most common treatment under the ISPM. There are presently no alternative and environmental friendly treatments to the ozone depleting methyl bromide treatment although alternative treatment options are encouraged under the standard set in the CPM Recommendation Replacement or reduction of the use of methyl bromide as a phytosanitary measure (2008).

All World Fumigation follows the standard set by ISPM NO. 15 when its technicians perform the methyl bromide treatment of wooden packaging. Other services that the fumigation company provides includes the ISPM MB Stamping of wood packing material and fumigation and fogging of a warehouse space and its bagged commodities, import and export material. Pest Plant Quarantine of import cargo, export cargo and equipment are also performed by the company, as well as other general pest control treatments.