2006-02-01 It's a crying shame: RP imports 98% of its milk
European Council implements new debarking requirements

STARTING March this year, the European Council (EC) would be enforcing new debarking requirements in the use of wood packaging materials (WPM) going into European Union (EU) member states.

WPMs imported into EU must be made from bark-free and wood-free from pests, must either be heated or fumigated with methyl bromide following the directive of ISPM 15, and must be officially marked per ISPM 15.

"My Dinagyang". Post your Dinagyang experience here
The EC also requires WPMs to have a declared moisture content expressed as a percentage of dry matter, of less than 20 percent achieved at the time of manufacture as an official statement that the wood is bark-free and another that says that the wood has been produced from debarked round wood.

The debarking requirement is optional in the international standard, but it would give the EU an even better protection against the introduction of plant pests and diseases.

It is also in keeping with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15 on Guideline for regulating wood packaging material in international trade.

The impetus for the new requirements is in the EC's desire to protect European forests from destructive foreign insect pests.

There are also exemptions from the requirements.

These includes raw wood that is 6mm or less thick and processed wood like oriented strand, board, particle board, plywood or veneer created using glue, heat and pressure or a combination of any.

Debarking is the removal of bark from round wood where pests usually thrive.

WPMs are wood or wood products used in supporting, protecting or carrying commodity including dunnage.

It refers to items like packaging cases, boxes and crates; drums and similar packing; pallets, box pallets and other load boards; pallet collars and skids.

This proved to be a controversial requirement because it could affect an estimated US$80 billion worth of US agricultural and commercial exports to the EU that are shipped on wooden pallets or in wood packaging materials.

The US and other WTO members have expressed their concerns about the policy. (Nini Hernandez/Philexport)