Wood packaging for export trade

SAI Global has been accredited by JAS-ANZ to certify products under the Australian Wood Packaging Certification Scheme (AWPCS). The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has established this scheme to help Australian exporters meet the international standard for treated wood packaging used in the export trade.

The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures - Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging in International Trade (ISPM 15) was adopted by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in recognition of the plant health risk associated with wood packaging.

The standard has been designed to significantly lessen the risk of unprocessed raw wood being used as a pathway for the introduction and the spread of pests and diseases through international trade.

Under the new certification scheme wood packaging manufacturers and treatment providers, who meet the requirements of ISPM 15, will be certified by SAI Global so that they can apply the internationally recognised IPPC mark to wood packaging intended for use in the export trade.

This certification will be vital to all exporters using wood packaging, such as pallets and boxes, including those in the food and wine export industries.

To meet the requirements of AWPCS all wood packaging material needs to undergo either heat treatment or fumigation with methyl bromide and be marked with a unique certification number and a country code to speed up the process through customs. To verify that treatment has occurred, and to provide traceability to the country of origin, packaging materials that meet the requirements and that have been certified under the AWPCS Scheme will be eligible to display the IPPC mark.