NELMA revisions aid global consistency

ITH 2009 revisions to the IPPC ISPM l5 International Wood Packaging Standard in full effect, regulations of wood packaging materials (WPM)-such as boxes, crates, skids, and pallets destined for use in exporting goods in international trade-have been modified.

These changes are specific to three areas: bark, dunnage and the actual IPPC stamp.

As one of the select few with the authority to inspect, evaluate and

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. Select Grades . Common Grades

Shop/Furniture Grades Timbers

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Paneling Hardwood Lumber offer ISPM certification, the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturer's Association continues to provide information and resources for U.S. mark modifications and regulation amendments.

The first modification now requires that compliant WPM material be constructed from debarked wood. As specifically outlined in the modified ISPM l5 (2009):

Irrespective of the type of treatment applied, wood packaging material must be made of debarked wood. For this standard, any number of visually separate and clearly distinct small pieces of bark may remain if they are:

. Less than 3 cm in width, regardless of length, or IJ'greater than 3 cm in width, the total surface area of an individual piece of bark must be less than 50 square centimeters.

To assist export wood packaging material facilities in complying with the recently implemented bark restrictions, NeLMA offers a handy-and complimentaryBark Measurement Tool.

"Offering a quick visual reference, NsLMA's Bark Measurement Tool is exactly 3 cm in width. And with the Tool's ruler portion, length and width can be measured in areas of bark greater than 3 cm, helping calculate the overall size in square centimeters," says Jeff Easterling, president of NSLMA. "On top of that, the total area of the Bark Measurement Tool is 50 square centimeters, so it truly offers a quick reference to meet the new debarking requirements."

In a concerted effort to better monitor and fortify the enforcement of zISPM 15, the other major amendments center on the actual IPPC stamp. This important mark certifies that the wood packaging material is ISPM 15 compliant, ensuring that all shipments are accepted into any country abiding by these international regulations.

By preparing its facilities for the IPPC stamp changes, NeLMA is part of an international effort to establish a single and distinct look to the mark, helping better ensure and enforce global recognition.

Creating visual consistency among IPPC stamps, the primary change to the U.S. mark is that the inspecting agency (NTLMA) logo has been moved to the outside and top right of the IPPC stamp border. It is also now required that all dunnage is clearly marked with an appropriate IPPC dunnage stamp, mandatory for facilities to be in compliance with new standards. The "Dunnage" text for these types of stamps has also been moved to the outside of the stamp border.

An unforeseen issue with the initial new stamp format, especially with stamps used on rocker mounts, has since been discovered. The new format forced the word "NgLMA" to stand alonc. horizontally, in the uppcr right hand comer of thc stamp. Without any corresponding raiscd area in the Iower corner'. this causcs a "hitch" in thc rocker motion that can eiisily lcad to stanrp legibility issucs.

To alleviatc this problem, NeLMA received approval fronr the Amcrican Lumber Standard Committee to modify thc placcmcnt ol'the "NaLMA" word logo on its stantps to a vertical position. Additionally. the ALSC has assigned each accreditcd a-uency with ir numcrical identification codc and now rcquires that this two-digit cocle appcar tc't thc lcl't of facility numbers. NILMA's numerical identification code is "09."

Thc new IPPC starnp formats are now available fbr purchiisc with the cxpcctation that ccrtificd facilities will phase them in over a rcasonablc period of timc. as new or replacer.ncnt stamps arc ordcrcd. For facilitics that havc recently oldered stamps (with the initial new format) replaccnrcnts are now availablc, l'r'ce-of-charge.

Sincc it's full implemcntation, cnfbrcement of ISPM l-5 has drastically affcctcd regulations on irrporting and cxporting goods. Undcr the re-uulltions. U.S. cxporters must use WPM that has been inspcctcd eind certif icd by an authorized agcncy. Accrcdited by thc American Lumbcr Standard Conrnrittee, NT,LMA has the authority to providc inspcction scrvices fbr lur.nber, timbcrs. and cxport wood packagin-e.

Scrvin-e as one of a select few witl'r thc authority to inspcct all WPM leavin-e the United Statcs bound lirr other coLlntries, NeLMA providcs an imperativc servicc to heip support the conrpliance with ISPM stanclards. Continuing to scrve as a trusted authority, NELMA cnsures that WPM is trcated. free of tin.rber pests, and certil'icd within rcgulat1(]n.

"As the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association movcs fbrward. wc will continue to meet thc needs of our members in an cver-changing fbrest industry