UK companies with heat treatment facilities are missing out on a “fantastic opportunity” according to Roddie Burgess, head of plant health at the Forestry Commission (FC).
For, to date, only 20 have been accredited by the FC to carry out a heat treatment process to the international packaging standard ISPM 15 which more and more countries are adopting worldwide.
From January 2004, UK companies exporting to North America and Mexico will have to comply with the standard already in force in countries such as China and Australia, with scores more due to follow.
The standard requires that wood is heat treated to 56 degrees C for 30 minutes to prevent the spread of disease carried by insects such as the pine wood nematode. Packaging entering participating countries that does not carry an internationally approved certification mark will be fumigated or destroyed, with the costs passed back to the originator.
Mr Burgess said: “There is still a shortage of heat treatment facilities, and not just in the UK. There is a fantastic opportunity here and I am surprised that people haven’t accepted that ISPM 15 is here to stay and it is happening now.
“I know there will be a shortfall of companies able to offer this service but there are four independent agencies carrying out assessments in the UK and people could get approval as fast as tomorrow.”
Anyone interested in becoming accredited should contact either the Forestry Commisson or Timcon.
