Plans to extend ISPM 15, which requires treatment of timber pallets to prevent spread of forest pests, would involve factoring in intra-European movements of timber pallets and packaging.
TIMCON chairman John Dye, speaking at the organisation’s recent AGM, said a recent impact assessment carried out by DG Santo, the European Commission plant health experts, identified the need to give adequate notice of about three to five years for any extension of ISPM 15.
"We believe there is therefore a negligible likelihood of an extension in the near future," said Mr Dye.
Mr Dye said while TIMCON supported initiatives to protect forests from invasive pests, he thought the risk of spread through European pallets and packaging was negligible.
During the AGM, Mr Dye said TIMCON was more active than ever despite difficult market conditions.
Delegates heard that since the 2012 AGM, demand for new pallets had fallen again, while housing starts were down 11%.
But TIMCON is pressing on with two projects – a study into standards for the kiln drying of pallets, and the ongoing Timbertrends survey, which quantified the UK timber packaging and pallet business on an annual basis.
TIMCON has also signed the Timber Industry Accord with other UK wood sector organisations and is engaging with the government-backed UK forestry sector action plan Grown in Britain.
