A new methyl bromide fumigation schedule for ISPM 15 has been approved by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). That schedule is as follows.
 

The minimum temperature should not be less than 10°C and the minimum exposure time should be 24 hours. Monitoring of concentrations should be carried out at a minimum at 2, 4, and 24 hours.

When a revised schedule is adopted for treatment of WPM, WPM treated under the previous treatment schedule does not need to be retreated, remarked or recertified.

The Enforcement Committee has adopted this 24-hr fumigation schedule in the MB Program. All certified fumigators have been advised to start using the new schedule immediately; the schedule will be mandatory and enforced September 18, 2006 (Monday).

Countries with implementation changes since last update (April 4, 2006):


Based on published regulations by the countries below, the following are now or soon will be enforcing ISPM 15:

Dominican Republic: July 1, 2006

Indonesia: No published date of implementation (based on their draft regulation, WPM must be debarked and a packing declaration will be required)

Nicaragua: No published date of implementation

Oman: December 2006

Summary information for countries that have begun implementation or announced plans to implement ISPM-15:

Argentina: June 1,2006

Australia: September 1, 2004 (Variations to ISPM-15: Bark-free + packing declaration for ISPM-15 compliant WPM, 21-day rule does not apply); January 1, 2006 will add wood packaging used in break bulk and air cargo to their ISPM-15 enforcement.

Bulgaria: January 24, 2006

Bolivia: July 23, 2005 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

Brazil: June 1, 2005

Canada: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation; exemption granted to U.S.)

Chile: June 1, 2005 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

China: January 1, 2006 (Variation: MB fumigation for softwood packaging must use the 24-hour treatment schedule. ALSO: Although not a requirement, it is highly recommended to make a statement in Chinese language on the shipping invoice "WPM are ISPM 15-compliant," "WPM are exempt from ISPM 15" or "There is no WPM in this shipment.")

Colombia: September 16, 2005

Costa Rica: March 19, 2006

Dominican Republic: July 1, 2006

Ecuador: September 20, 2005 (Date change: previously April 26, 2004)

Egypt: October 1, 2005

European Union: March 1, 2005

Guatemala: September 16, 2005

Honduras: February 25, 2006

India: November 1, 2004 (Variation: Phytosanitary certificate required only for WPM not ISPM-15 compliant)

Indonesia: No published date of implementation (based on their draft regulation, WPM must be debarked and a packing declaration will be required)

Japan: January 2007 (tentative date of implementation)

Jordan: November 17, 2005

Lebanon: March 26, 2006

Mexico: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation since January 1, 2004)

New Zealand: April 16, 2003 (Variation: Bark-free WPM)

Nicaragua: No published date of implementation

Nigeria: September 30, 2004

Oman: December 2006

Panama: Not yet enforcing ISPM 15

Paraguay: June 28, 2005

Peru: March 1, 2005

Philippines: June 1, 2005

Seychelles: March 1, 2006

South Africa: January 1, 2005 (Variation: 24-MB schedule for softwood packaging)

South Korea: June 1, 2005 (Variation: MB fumigation for softwood packaging must use the 24-hour treatment schedule.)

Switzerland: March 1, 2005

Syria: April 1, 2006

Trinidad & Tobago: September 15, 2005

Turkey: January 1, 2006 (Variation: Debarked WPM)

Ukraine: October 1, 2005

U.S.: September 16, 2005 (Note: Phase-in implementation; exemption granted to Canada -- must provide import declaration that shipment derived from trees harvested in U.S. or Canada -- import lumber must be ISPM-15)

Venezuela: June 1, 2005

Vietnam: June 5, 2005

ISPM-15 Requirements

Compliance with ISPM-15 for wood packaging materials allows for two treatment options:

Heat Treatment (HT): Wood packaging material should be heated in a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes. The American Lumber Standards Committee administers the U.S. certification program for heat treatment.

Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation: The wood packaging material should be fumigated with methyl bromide. NWPCA has been tasked by the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to administer the fumigation program.

NOTE: ISPM 15 requirements apply to all species of coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood) packaging materials.