20/10/05 Country Updates – ISPM 15

The country-by-country process of adopting ISPM 15 continues, approaching 30 countries, which are in various stages of adoption, implementation, and enforcement. For clarity in reviewing the status of each country, the following categorizations are made:

1. Countries currently (including those beginning enforcement by September 30, 2005) enforcing ISPM 15 without stipulations.
2. Countries currently enforcing (including those beginning enforcement by September 30, 2005) ISPM 15 with stipulations.
3. Countries that have established dates for enforcement beyond September 30, 2005.
4. Countries that have indicated implementation and enforcement without specifying a starting date.
5. Countries that have decided not to adopt ISPM 15.

Countries currently enforcing ISPM 15 (with beginning dates in parentheses) without stipulations
• Argentina (June 1, 2005)
• Brazil (June 1, 2005)
• Colombia (September 16, 2005)
• Costa Rica (January 1, 2005)
• Ecuador (September 20, 2005)
• Guatemala (September 16, 2005)
• India (November 1, 2004)
• Nigeria (September 30, 2004)
• Panama (February 17, 2005)
• Peru (September 1, 2005)
• Philippines (June 1, 2005)
• South Africa (January 1, 2005)
• Switzerland (March 1, 2005)
• Venezuela (June 1, 2005)

Countries currently enforcing ISPM 15 (with beginning dates in parentheses) with stipulations
• Australia (September 1, 2004) – WPM and dunnage must be bark free and each consignment must include a packing declaration.
• Bolivia (July 23, 2005) – Requires debarked WPM.
• Canada (September 16, 2005)*- See Phase- In Section Below.
• Chile (June 1, 2005) – Requires WPM be debarked.
• European Union (March 1, 2005) – Have deferred debarking and bark-free specifications for one year from implementation date; dunnage treated and marked need not be bark-free.
• Mexico (September 16, 2005)*- See Phase- In Section Below.
• New Zealand (April 16, 2003) – Requires bark-free WPM.
• South Korea (June 1, 2005) – Methyl bromide fumigation must use the 24-hour treatment schedule.
• United States (September 16, 2005)*- See Phase-In Section Below.

Countries that have established dates for enforcement beyond September 30, 2005
• China (January 1, 2006) – Softwood packaging can be fumigated with methyl bromide, but must use the 24 hour treatment schedule.
• Egypt (October 1, 2005)
• Turkey (January 1, 2006) – Will require WPM be debarked.
*Phase-In enforcement for the United States, Canada, and Mexico The United States, Canada, and Mexico, through their membership in NAPPO (North
American Plant Protection Organization), have collectively agreed to revise their implementation of ISPM-15 according to a three step process:
Phase 1: September 16, 2005 through January 31, 2006 - No action will be taken,
but notification will be issued to importers who are not using ISPM-15 compliant WPM.
Phase 2: February 1, 2006 through July 3, 2006 - Non-compliant WPM will be rejected.
Remediation options will include fumigation at the port of entry or repackaging of the
shipment with compliant packaging materials. All remediation expenses will be billed to the
importer.
Phase 3: Starting July 4, 2006 - Full enforcement of ISPM-15 for all WPM will begin.

Finally, the movement of WPM between the United States and Canada has also been
revised. WPM moving from Canada to the United States remains exempt from ISPM-15
requirements if Canadian lumber is used. However an import declaration will be required. The shipping invoice must state that the WPM in the shipment is derived from trees harvested in Canada or the United States. A “Made in Canada” stamp is not acceptable.
Canadian WPM manufactured from imported lumber, according to USDA APHIS, must be
treated according to ISPM-15 guidelines, with an appropriate treatment and marking. This
type of WPM entering the US from Canada is no longer exempt.
At this time, Canada has not imposed similar restrictions on WPM entering Canada from
the United States.

Countries that have indicated implementation and enforcement without specifying a starting date
• Tanzania

Countries that have opted not to adopt ISPM 15
• Japan– currently not requiring ISPM compliant WPM. It is not clear that this will remain Japan’s long term policy.
• Taiwan – Regulations apply only to lumber and other wood products and not WPM.