Changes Proposed to Import Health Standard for Wood Packaging Material

The current Import Health Standard (HIS) for Wood Packaging Material (WPM) is being modified. Information is available on the MAF Biosecurity New Zealand website: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/biosec/consult/draft-ihs-wood-packaging-material

Under the current standard, issued in June 2006, all WPM (thicker than 6mm) imported in to New Zealand must be either ISPM15 compliant or be treated and certified as per the conditions of the standard.

Significant Changes proposed are:

1. From 1 November 2009 there will be a mandatory requirement for MAFBNZ inspection of all WPM profiled as being non-compliant (not meeting the requirements of the HIS). These inspections will be cost recovered by MAFBNZ.Complying WPM will not require inspection as part of this process.
2. MAFBNZ inspectors are now able to inspect an release non-complying WPM. Previously only treatment, reshipment or destruction options were available.
3. From 30 November 2009 MAFBNZ will enforce the requirement that the latest version of the sea container quarantine declaration to be used. This version specifically asks if any wood packaging present is ISPM15 compliant. http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/forms/containers-declaration

For a further 4 weeks consignments found to be associated with the old version will be held and MAFBNZ will allow an updated version to be provided. This will incur processing charges.

After this time only the current version of the quarantine declaration will be deemed to be compliant.

This most significant chane is the mandatory requirement for the MAFBNZ inspection of all WPM profiled as being non-compliant.

All non-compliant WPM identified by MAFBNZ profiling will require MAFBNZ inspection at the border as from 1 November 2009, this inspection will be cost recovered.