Minutes 4-19-01

As always, if something that follows inadvertently misrepresented the discussion or your understanding, please let me know right away.

Attendees:

EIPS Members (locations for convenience of our guests):

Bob Sanders (IBM, Raleigh, NC) David Zessin (Agilent, Loveland, CO) Ron Johnson (Intel, Oregon) Edward Adelakun (Celestica, Markham, Ontario) Kevin Howard (HP, Vancouver, WA) Paul Russell (HP, Palo Alto, CA) John Bridges (Dell, Austin, TX)

Minutes / Notes:

1. Invited Guest discussion/presentation

2. EIPS Spec Status:

Bob Sanders reviewed orally the significant changes which will appear in the April 19, 2001 version of the spec which will be sent out as soon as it can be converted to PDF. Sorry, I don't yet have that capability on my computer but I have colleagues that do. Most significantly, regarding markings. The bug free symbol has gained favor and is part of the proposed marking being developed by the NWPCA and the USDA. However, it does not include a species designation (C or NC). We should include a species designation until which point all materials are treated equally by the law. Nonetheless, we should treat all materials regardless of species long term.

3. EU Directive Update:

Effective date 10/1/2001. There is no longer a requirement for dry lumber but heat treated conifer is mandatory. Non-conifers are not restricted but we know from experience that these may be subject to delays if no positive mark exists to identify it. Even then there may be some distrust or disbelief that the mark is accurate. All treated pallets must also be marked in a way traceable to the treatment facility. A specific marking scheme has not be written into the regulations but our proposed scheme would comply to the written guidelines.

Following not discussed at the EIPS meeting but provided for convenience:

Attachment: EU Decision Announced

(See attached file: EU01-02-27-SCPH-Summary.doc) (See attached file: decision1811enr9.doc) (text of official EU Commission Decision from the Brussels meeting)

Scope: The EU regulation applies only to coniferous wood ("softwood") shipped to the EU from the US, Canada, China, and Japan. Notice that it does NOT include Taiwan, Korea, or Mexico in its list of restricted countries (like Finland does). IBM uses softwood in its crates and some pallets. It is not known if it will affect shipments transiting "in bond" to a non-EU country after landing in an EU country (example: landing in Frankfurt and transiting in bond to Hungary). Caution: China may react swiftly to this restriction and apply similar regulations against imports from the EU to China. This is highly speculative but a China reactionary regulation may actually affect us earlier than the EU import regulation itself. We already know that China would enforce it strictly if they were to take this action.

Technical Requirements: All solid, unmanufactured coniferous wood must be 1) be heat treated to a core temperature of 56C for 30 minutes and markings on the articles indicating where and whom treatment took place to ensure compliance, or 2) be chemical pressure impregnated, or 3) be fumigated. This final decision spoke loudly as much in what it did NOT include as much as what it did:

For instance, There are no paperwork requirements specified at this time except for certifications required for shipments from CHINA ONLY. (oddly, there are no paperwork requirements for shipments from Japan, US, and Canada). It also does not include non-coniferous wood (hardwoods). It also removes the requirements for the wood to be free of bark and free of visible grub holes and the requirement to be below 20% moisture content..

Thanks for your continued participation. See you next month!!

Regards,

Bob Sanders
IBM Corporate Packaging
RTP, North Carolina, USA, 27709-2195
Phone: 919-543-1260, Fax: -4253 (IBM T/L: 441)
email: btsander@us.ibm.com