Effective July 5, 2006 the government of Canada began refusing to allow non-compliant international wood packaging entry into Canada. This is the final phase of the new wood packaging import requirements being implemented in Canada, Mexico and the United States (U.S.) in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15.
The government of Canada began enforcing the final phase of new requirements designed to reduce the risk of harmful pests being introduced into Canada through untreated wood packaging materials.
ISPM No. 15 requires that wood packaging either be heat-treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and marked with an internationally recognized International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) mark, or in lieu of this mark, the consignment may be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate specifying the treatment used.
The CFIA encourages alternative methods of treatment other than methyl bromide to assist Canada adhere to The Montréal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1992) under the United Nations Environment Program. This protocol mandates reductions and eventual phase-out of some methyl bromide use.
Shipments found to contain wood packaging that do not meet Canadian import requirements will be ordered removed from Canada and are the responsibility of the importer or person in care and control of the regulated article(s).
Therefore, importers should coordinate with their suppliers and forwarders to ensure that pallets used for all Canadian and U.S. bound consignments are compliant with the requirements. Local warehouses and carriers will not undertake the responsibility to verify and re-palletize cargo for import and export shipments.
Canada’s import requirements cover solid wood (excluding manufactured wood and paper products) used in packaging, supporting, protecting, bracing or carrying a commodity.
Wood packaging materials manufactured from wood of Canadian or continental-U.S. origin that have not moved internationally are exempt from the treatment and marking requirements of Canadian and U.S. wood packaging import regulations when moving between the continental U.S. and Canada.
A sample IPPC symbol is available at:
CFIA Directive 98-08 Appendix 2
CBSA enforcement measures related to non-compliant wood packaging are located here.