Heat treatment (HT)
Wood packaging material should be heated in accordance with a specific time-temperature schedule that achieves a minimum wood core temperature of 56oC for a minimum of 30 minutes[3].
Kiln-drying (KD), chemical pressure impregnation (CPI), or other treatments may be considered HT treatments to the extent that these meet the HT specifications. For example, CPI may meet the HT specification through the use of steam, hot water, or dry heat.
Heat treatment is indicated by the mark HT. (see Annex II)
Methyl bromide (MB) fumigation for wood packaging material
The wood packaging material should be fumigated with methyl bromide. The treatment is indicated by the mark MB. The minimum standard for methyl bromide fumigation treatment for wood packaging material is as follows:
Temperature |
Dosage rate |
Minimum concentration (g/m3) at: |
|||
0.5hrs. |
2hrs. |
4hrs. |
16hrs. |
||
21oC or above |
48 |
36 |
24 |
17 |
14 |
16oC or above |
56 |
42 |
28 |
20 |
17 |
11oC or above |
64 |
48 |
32 |
22 |
19 |
The minimum temperature should not be less than 100C and the minimum exposure time should be 16 hours[4].
List of most significant pests targeted by HT and MB
Members of the following pest groups associated with wood packaging material are practically eliminated by HT and MB treatment in accordance with the specifications listed above:
Pest group |
|
Insects |
|
|
Anobiidae |
|
Bostrichidae |
|
Buprestidae |
|
Cerambycidae |
|
Curculionidae |
|
Isoptera |
|
Lyctidae (with some exceptions for HT) |
|
Oedemeridae |
|
Scolytidae |
|
Siricidae |
Nematodes |
|
|
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus |
The mark shown below is to certify that the wood packaging material that bears the mark has been subjected to an approved measure.
The mark should at minimum include the:
- symbol
- ISO two letter country code followed by a unique number assigned by the NPPO to the producer of the wood packaging material, who is responsible for ensuring appropriate wood is used and properly marked
- IPPC abbreviation according to Annex I for the approved measure used (e.g. HT, MB).
NPPOs, producers or suppliers may at their discretion add control numbers or other information used for identifying specific lots. Where debarking is required the letters DB should be added to the abbreviation of the approved measure. Other information may also be included provided it is not confusing, misleading, or deceptive.
Markings should be:
- according to the model shown here
- legible
- permanent and not transferable
- placed in a visible location, preferably on at least two opposite sides of the article being certified.
The use of red or orange should be avoided since these colors are used in the labeling of dangerous goods.
Recycled, remanufactured or repaired wood packaging material should be re-certified and re-marked. All components of such material should have been treated.
Shippers should be encouraged to use appropriately marked wood for dunnage.
Treatments[5] being considered and which may be approved when appropriate data becomes available, include but are not limited to:
Fumigation
Phosphine
Sulfuryl
fluoride
Carbonyl sulphide
CPI
High-pressure/vacuum process
Double vacuum
process
Hot and cold open tank process
Sap displacement method
Irradiation
Gamma
radiation
X-rays
Microwaves
Infra red
Electron beam
treatment
Controlled atmosphere
For further information on international standards, guidelines and recommendations concerning phytosanitary measures, and the complete list of current publications, please contact the:
SECRETARIAT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION
By mail: |
IPPC Secretariat |
Fax: |
+39-06-570.56347 |
E-mail: |
|
Website: |
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES (ISPMS)
International Plant Protection Convention, 1997. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 1: Principles of plant quarantine as related to international trade, 1995. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 2: Guidelines for pest risk analysis, 1996. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 3: Code of conduct for the import and release of exotic biological control agents, 1996. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 4: Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas, 1996. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 5: Glossary of phytosanitary terms, 1999. FAO, Rome.
Glossary Supplement No. 1: Guidelines on the interpretation and application of the concept of official control for regulated pests, 2001. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 6: Guidelines for surveillance, 1997. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 7: Export certification system, 1997. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 8: Determination of pest status in an area, 1998. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 9: Guidelines for pest eradication programmes, 1998. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 10: Requirements for the establishment of pest free places of production and pest free production sites, 1999. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 11: Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests, 2001. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 12: Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates, 2001. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 13: Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action, 2001. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 14: The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk management, 2002. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 15: Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade, 2002. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 16: Regulated non-quarantine pests: concept and application, 2002. FAO, Rome.
ISPM Pub. No. 17: Pest reporting, 2002. FAO, Rome.
[3] A minimum core temperature
of 56° C for a minimum of 30 min. is chosen in consideration of the wide
range of pests for which this combination is documented to be lethal and a
commercially feasible treatment. Although it is recognized that some pests are
known to have a higher thermal tolerance, quarantine pests in this category are
managed by NPPOs on a case by case basis. [4] Certain countries require that the minimum commodity temp should be higher [5] Certain treatments such as phosphine fumigation and some CPI treatments are generally believed to be very effective but at present lack experimental data concerning efficacy which would allow them to be approved measures. This present lack of data is specifically in relation to the elimination of raw wood pests present at the time of application of the treatment. |