Shipping To Australia with Wood Packaging Materials?
(More news)
While the IPPC-certified stamp on finished export wood packaging materials (WPM) makes for safe passage through most global ports, Australia has always had a few extra requirements that shippers need to be reminded of at this time.
First of all, the IPPC-certified stamp on WPM is acceptable; however the shipment must be accompanied by a “Packing Declaration”. This Declaration is unique to Australia and is basically a self declaration by the supplier that answers 3 questions: (1) Has Straw Packing been used? (2) Has Timber Packing been used? And if so, is it marked with certified IPPC ISPM 15 compliant stamps, and (3) If Timber Packing has been used, is it “free of bark”?
A shipment arriving into Australia without this additional documentation is subject to question and could be held for fumigation (at the cost of the shipper), even if the IPPC ISPM 15 stamp is visible. At the very least, there will be a delay in getting the shipment to the final customer. This includes IPPC Dunnage stamped lumber and timbers as well.
When the manufacturer of the wood packaging is not the final shipper of a product to Australia, the “Packing Declaration” and “free of bark” requirement may not be known by the actual exporter. NELMA recommends that the facilities who produce pallets, skids, boxes, and crates for sale should ask their customers if the wood packaging will be destined for Australia so the WPM order will be "free of bark" and the customer is aware that they must complete the "Packing Declaration" prior to shipment.
In addition, remember that any plywood product used in the WPM unit must have been manufactured 90 days prior to shipment to Australia, which requires an additional declaration form to be included with the shipment.
A sample copy of Australia’s “Packing Declaration” or "Plywood Products Certificate" is available from NELMA (207-829-6901 or email info@nelma.org), or print directly from the Australia Quarantine Aspects and Procedures – Cargo website....... (pages 65 and 76 respectively) within their downloadable pdf document:
