Pressure for such a move has come from companies which have already invested heavily in meeting the requirements of the ISPM 15 initiative and which now fear that their financial commitment might be undermined by fraudulent marking activities.
According to current proposals, the statutory instruments would provide powers to: enter an establishment and to seize and destroy equipment used in the fraudulent marking of wood packaging materials; and seek fines of up to £5,000 for any party found guilty of fraudulent marking activities.
The statutory instruments were now “very close” to completion and could be introduced by early June this year, said Mr Burgess.
