| CFIA announces
phase-in for new wood packaging regulations |
|
(Ottawa, November 19, 2003)… The
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that
current phytosanitary procedures will apply until all three
North American Plant Protection Organization countries
(Canada, the USA and Mexico) are ready to phase-in tougher
regulations, beginning January 2, 2004.
The standard covers the import of all untreated, non-manufactured
wood packaging materials from anywhere in the world, excluding
the USA. Any shipments that don't meet the new standard
will be ordered "removed from Canada". Completion
of the phase-in is expected by mid-2005.
The new regulation is in line with guidelines established
by the Interim Commission Phytosanitary Measures of the
International Plant Protection Agency (IPPA) under "ISPM
#15, Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material
in International Trade". The revised CFIA Plant Policy
Directive D98-08, effective January 2, 2004, can be found
at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-98-08e.shtml
For more information, please call (905) 882-4880, Brian
Rowe – Customs Consulting Services.
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