European Union Emergency Measures for Non-Manufactured Wood Packing
(October 1, 2001)

Non-Manufactured Wood Packing (NMWP), also called solid wood packing material or SWPM, is defined ads “wood packing other than that comprise wholly of wood-based products such as plywood, [particular board, oriented strand board, veneer, wood wool, etc., which has been created using glue, heat and pressure or a combination thereof.”

The European Union (EU) has for many years required coniferous NMWP from countries infested with the pinewood nematode (PWN) to be free of bark, free of grub holes larger than 3mm, and heat treated.   After an outbreak of PWN in Portugal in 1999, Finnish authorities surveyed NMWP arriving from infested countries.   Four countries (the United States, Canada, China and Japan) were found to be shipping NMWP that did not conform to the EU requirements.   The EU has adopted emergency measures as a means to assure that the NMWP does not pose a risk of spread of PWN.

The emergency measures effective October 1, 2001 and adopted by the European Union require that all new and used coniferous NMWP originating from the United States, Canada, China and Japan be:

•  heat treated or kiln-dried to a minimum core temperature of 56C for at least 30 minutes in a closed chamber or kiln which has been tested, evaluated and approved officially for this purpose.

•  Pressure treated with an approved chemical in accordance with an officially recognized technical specification; or

•  Fumigated with an approved chemical in accordance with an officially recognized technical specification

•  All coniferous NMWP must also display a mark enabling the identification of the treatment facility and the location of the facility.   In the case of heat treated coniferous NMWP the use of the official mark will be limited to NMWP manufacturers participating in the APHIS-ALSC program.  

USDA is working with the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC), the lumber grading agencies and the National Wooden Pallet and Container Association to develop a voluntary program for heat treated wood.  This program will cover new and used pallets and will require NMWP produced in this program to be manufactured wholly of treated or kiln dried/heat treated wood or will require the participating facility to heat treat existing NMWP.  

The EU has stated that existing pallets, etc. will have to meet the same requirements as new pallets.  Some companies are planning on purchasing modular heat treatment equipment and to register with an ALSC approved grading agency so that they can treat existing packing materials.  Existing pallets, crates, etc., can also be fumigated.  

Items made of wood (besides NMWP) such as furniture, doors, handicrafts, etc. are not regulated under the EU emergency measures and will not have to be heat treated.  I addition manufactured products such as plywood pressed hardwood etc. do not fall under the scope of the European Union measure.