Text: U.S. Department of Agriculture Release on Rules for Wood Packing
(Certification process finalized for material exported to China)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in an August 16 press release that it has finalized, with one change, its process for certifying solid wood packing material exported to China.

The final rule clarifies that the required heat treatment of coniferous packing material must be performed in the United States, rather than in other countries, in order to prevent the transmission of invasive pests.

The final rule was published in the August 17 Federal Register and became effective upon publication.

Since Jan. 1, 2000, China has required goods from the United States to be accompanied either by a statement from the exporter that the shipment does not contain any coniferous packing material or by a USDA-issued certificate in which the exporter attests that the coniferous packing materials in the shipment have been heat-treated.

Following is the text of the press release:

(begin text)

COMPLIANCE PROCESS FOR CHINESE RULE ON SOLID WOOD PACKING MATERIAL FINALIZED

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2000--The U.S. Department of Agriculture has finalized, with one change, its process for certifying solid wood packing material exported to China.

"The final rule clarifies that the required heat treatment must be performed in the United States, rather than in other countries," said Richard L. Dunkle, deputy administrator for plant protection and quarantine with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA's marketing and regulatory programs mission area.

Since Jan. 1, 2000, China has required goods from the United States to be accompanied either by a statement from the exporter that the shipment does not contain any coniferous packing material or by a USDA-issued certificate in which the exporter attests that the coniferous packing materials in the shipment have been heat-treated.

Exporters must comply with the Chinese regulations by doing one of the following: If coniferous solid wood packing material is used, it must be heated to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. To certify the shipment for heat treatment, an exporter should download form PPQ 553 from APHIS' website at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/chinaswp/hotbutton.html. The exporter should fill out the form and take it to a local USDA, APHIS, PPQ, or state cooperator office for endorsement. A list of these offices is also available on the APHIS website at www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/aqi.

If no solid wood packing material is present, the exporter should self-certify the shipment by attaching a signed statement on company letterhead to the bill of lading or invoice. The statement should read, "there is no solid wood packing material in this shipment." Exporters are also encouraged to attach a copy of the Chinese declaration of no wood packing material, available on the APHIS website at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/chinaswp/nowood.html. Chinese officials developed these statements to assist in cargo clearance.

If there is solid wood packing material in the shipment, but it comes from a source other than coniferous trees, the exporter can self-certify by placing the following statement on the bill of lading and/or invoice: "The solid wood packing material in this shipment is not coniferous wood." Exporters are also encouraged to attach a copy of the Chinese declaration of non-coniferous wood packing material, available on the APHIS website at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/chinaswp/nonconifer.html. Chinese officials developed these statements to assist in cargo clearance.

For further information, contact Russell Caplen, program analyst, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 148, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1234; (301) 734-8537.

The final rule is scheduled for publication in the Aug. 17 Federal Register and becomes effective upon publication. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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