Australian Heat Treatment Specifications

Australia: Australia has notified through Notice to Industry 29/2005-06, effective January 1, 2006 , a phase in of mandatory treatment requirements for all solid wood packaging and dunnage.

January 1, 2006 - April 30, 2006
Containerized Sea Cargo
Inspected wood, with or without ISPM 15 marks, found to have live insects, bark or other quarantine risk material will be subject to onshore treatment, re-export and/or destruction at the importers discretion and expense.

Break Bulk and Air Cargo
Wood packaging and dunnage not compliant with ISPM 15 will be subject to mandatory treatment, re-export or destruction ONLY if insects, bark or other quarantine risk material is detected.

May 1, 2006 Onward
Containerized Sea Cargo
Inspected wood found to be lacking the ISPM 15 mark, have live insects, bark, or other quarantine risk material will be subject to onshore treatment.

Break Bulk and Air Cargo
Wood packaging and dunnage not compliant with ISPM 15 will be subject to mandatory treatment, re-export or destruction at the importers expense.

WPM and dunnage must be free of bark.

ISPM 15 treated WPM does not require a treatment certificate providing that the relevant required packing declaration indicates ISPM 15 compliance and freedom from bark. There is no longer a time limit of 21 days between treatment and shipping if the WPM was treated and marked per ISPM 15. Please note if all conditions of packing declarations are not properly addressed, the consignment may be held.

Contact the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) or the National Wood Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) for information pertaining to ISPM 15 respective official treatment and marking requirements.

WPM not in compliance with ISPM 15 will be subject to existing alternative AQIS requirements and approved treatments. Alternative AQIS requirements and approved treatments may be found in the AQIS Cargo Containers Quarantine Aspects and Procedures document. Packing declarations may be accessed by clicking here. Please note that while AQIS will accept a phytosanitary certificate for WPM, it is against APHIS policy to issue phytosanitary certificates for WPM to be used in the transport of commodities.