Timber importers have been warned to make sure their suppliers know about a change in legislation regarding loose wooden dunnage.
Timber Trade Federation (TTF) head of technical and trade policy Nick Boulton said TTF importing members who are booking containers or even ship space should make sure the contract signed addresses the issue of dunnage now needing to meet the plant health requirements of ISPM 15.
“Most timber and wood-based panel importers may assume this latest development is not their problem,” said Mr Boulton. “After all they would normally have little or no influence over the ports, shipping lines and container packing companies that use loose dunnage.
“However, when these companies use non-compliant dunnage it is the importer’s cargo that is at risk when it arrives in the EU.”
Plant health inspectors have the power to destroy or send back cargoes that do not meet ISPM 15 requirements and pose a risk to European forests.
