Wood packaging violations not centered on produce
Wood packaging violations not centered on produce
Though there have been hundreds of violations of the new wood packaging regulations regarding imported packaging materials, few have been specific to fruits and vegetables, according to Cathy Sauceda, director of the Special Enforcement Office of Field Operations/Trade Programs for U.S. Customs & Border Protection.
"In anticipation of that question, I asked [the individual port directors] and was surprised to find that fresh produce violations do not represent a disproportionate amount," she told The Produce News Feb. 22.
A week earlier, Ms. Sauceda said that during the first two weeks of Phase 2 of implementation of the new regulation, border inspectors had found 348 non-compliant shipments representing 1.53 percent of all shipments.
The wood packaging regulation requires that all wood materials shipped into the United States be treated for pest infestation and for that treatment to be certified. Currently, approved treatment methods are fumigation with methyl bromide or a specified heat treatment.
The final rule for wood packaging material was published last year and included a phased-in enforcement period. During Phase 1 - Sept. 16, 2005 through Jan. 31, 2006 - importers and exporters not in compliance with the new rule, which was designed to keep harmful pests out of the United States, were basically informed about the new rule and were given a warning.
Phase 2 began Feb. 1 and runs through July 4. During this phase, crates and pallets that do not comply with the standard may be rejected at the discretion of the port director. Each port is given the authority to allow for trans-shipment on certified pallets or in certified crates, or they can reject loads in violation by simply forcing them to be shipped back to the source country.
In Phase 3, which will commence July 5, enforcement will be broadened to include all imported wood, including dunnage such as bracing materials that are used within the hold of a ship to secure the load.
Ms. Sauceda said that when the regulation is expanded to include all packaging materials, the border inspection service expects a higher percentage of non-compliance. Ms. Sauceda said that in Phase 3, port directors will continue to have the authority to allow for trans-shipment of the load to regulated pallets and boxes, or they will be within their authority to reject the shipment and require that it be returned to the source. As a practical matter, she said that exporting the load is the path most port directors are taking on non-compliant loads. In making their decisions, port director consider such factors as manpower and disruption of services when determining what to do with a non-compliant shipment.
Ms. Sauceda said that compliance has improved significantly since the U.S. Customs & Border Protection department ran a pilot program last July, though she did not know the non- compliance statistics during that time period.
"In anticipation of that question, I asked [the individual port directors] and was surprised to find that fresh produce violations do not represent a disproportionate amount," she told The Produce News Feb. 22.
A week earlier, Ms. Sauceda said that during the first two weeks of Phase 2 of implementation of the new regulation, border inspectors had found 348 non-compliant shipments representing 1.53 percent of all shipments.
The wood packaging regulation requires that all wood materials shipped into the United States be treated for pest infestation and for that treatment to be certified. Currently, approved treatment methods are fumigation with methyl bromide or a specified heat treatment.
The final rule for wood packaging material was published last year and included a phased-in enforcement period. During Phase 1 - Sept. 16, 2005 through Jan. 31, 2006 - importers and exporters not in compliance with the new rule, which was designed to keep harmful pests out of the United States, were basically informed about the new rule and were given a warning.
Phase 2 began Feb. 1 and runs through July 4. During this phase, crates and pallets that do not comply with the standard may be rejected at the discretion of the port director. Each port is given the authority to allow for trans-shipment on certified pallets or in certified crates, or they can reject loads in violation by simply forcing them to be shipped back to the source country.
In Phase 3, which will commence July 5, enforcement will be broadened to include all imported wood, including dunnage such as bracing materials that are used within the hold of a ship to secure the load.
Ms. Sauceda said that when the regulation is expanded to include all packaging materials, the border inspection service expects a higher percentage of non-compliance. Ms. Sauceda said that in Phase 3, port directors will continue to have the authority to allow for trans-shipment of the load to regulated pallets and boxes, or they will be within their authority to reject the shipment and require that it be returned to the source. As a practical matter, she said that exporting the load is the path most port directors are taking on non-compliant loads. In making their decisions, port director consider such factors as manpower and disruption of services when determining what to do with a non-compliant shipment.
Ms. Sauceda said that compliance has improved significantly since the U.S. Customs & Border Protection department ran a pilot program last July, though she did not know the non- compliance statistics during that time period.
