U.S. Dept. of State - IIP: The United States and China

Text: Department of Agriculture on China Wood Packing Materials
(March 14 announcement says exporters must fully comply)
American exporters to China who use solid wood packing material will have to follow Chinese regulations 100 percent, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
If they don't, it warned in a March 14 press release, they risk having their products sent back to them, or worse, destroyed.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to remind all exporters of the importance of fully complying with the Chinese solid wood packing material regulation," said Richard L. Dunkle, the USDA's deputy administrator for plant protection and quarantine.
The Chinese rule requiring all coniferous solid wood packing material to be heat treated went into effect January 1, but China allowed a 60-day period of operational flexibility in recognition of the potential for a degree of unintentional non-compliance.
That period is over, the Agriculture Department said.
Following is the text of the Agriculture Department announcement:
(begin text)

FULL ENFORCEMENT OF CHINA'S SOLID WOOD PACKING MATERIAL RULE IN EFFECT

WASHINGTON, MARCH 14, 2000 -- The period of operational flexibility for U.S. exporters shipping solid wood packing material to China has ended. Exporters must now fully comply with the requirements set forth in China's regulation or risk having their shipment destroyed or returned to the United States.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to remind all exporters of the importance of fully complying with the Chinese solid wood packing material regulation," 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 a regulatory programs mission area.
The Chinese rule requiring all coniferous solid wood packing material to be heat treated went into effect January 1, but China allowed a 60-day period of operational flexibility in recognition of the potential for a degree of unintentional non-compliance. During this time period, shipments that arrived in China lacking the proper certification were held until the information was supplied. Now they will be destroyed or returned.
The last shipments to be granted operational flexibility left U.S. ports March 1.
Exporters must comply with the Chinese regulation by doing one of the following:
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 solid 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 as well.
If coniferous solid wood packing material is used, it must be heated to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. Kiln drying also often meets this requirement. 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. 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.
(NOTE: USDA new releases, program announcements, and media advisories are available on the Internet. Access the APHIS Home Page by pointing your web browser to http://www.aphis.usda.gov and clicking on "APHIS Press Releases." Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send an e-mail message to [email protected] and leave the subject blank. In the message, type subscribe press_releases.)
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)

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