EIPS meeting – June 19, 2003

Attendees:

 

Dr. Mark White, John Healy, Phil Smolinski, Suzanne Keeler, Ron Johnson,

Dave Zessin, Susie Burleigh, Bob Sanders

 

Notes / Minutes:

 

--  The new IPPC symbol has been released to replace the bug free symbol.

The FAO is in the process of registering the mark in each country including

the US.     NAPPO will control the use of the mark in North America.

The IPPC mark will be difficult to print legibly on wood and is not

stencilable in its present form.     Obvously, this is a giant step

backward from where we intended to be on this matter but it is still better

than nothing (maybe).

 

(See attached file: IPPC Symbol.bmp)

 

--  NAPPO (US, Canada, Mexico) signed a joint agreement to adopt ISPM15

simultaneously in Jan, 2, 2004 for all North American imports.    This

still must pass through the legislative process including public comment

period.    Canada was prepared to adopt it in June, 2003 but agreed to

delay in concert with the other North American countries.

 

--   On a negative note, Australia has indicated no intention of adopting

ISPM15 in lieu of their more stringent standards.    This does not bode

well for global harmony on this matter.    See attachment below.

 

--  New Zealand which usually parallels Australia on such matters will

accept ISPM15 compliant materials in lieu of their more stringent

requirements (Example:  HT = 70C for 4 hours in New Zealand).       See

APHIS website for New Zealand details.

 

--  China, Japan and Korea have expressed reservations about the efficacy

of fumigation for pests of concern to them.    However, they appear to

otherwise be showing some favor towards implementing ISPM15.

 

--  Bill Roberts is the new contact at FAO that is involved in the IPPC

program and markings.     He replaced Bob Griffin.

 

--  Tom Searles at ALSC would be most knowledgeable about how the IPPC

symbol will be rolled out.     Previously approved sources for the bug free

symbol should be able to do a straight conversion to the new symbol.

Notice that the IPPC standard still carries a March 2002 date despite the

marking change.     We should assume that use of the logo prior to stamps

being officially provided to specific manufacturers would not be allowed.

Bob Sanders will inquire with ALSC to find out what the plan is in Mexico

and Canada.    Note:    Canada and US will not enforce IPPC standards on

shipments crossing the US/Canada border (of origin US or Canada) since we

share a long border with contiguous forests.   However, both US and Canada

will enforce the standard on shipments from origin Mexico.    It is unknown

what Mexico will do on shipments from the US/Canada.

 

--   USDA has requested comments on their plan to adopt ISPM15 by Jan. 2,

2004.    EIPS will provide comments and questions for their consideration

as in the past.    EIPS members should compile any comments/questions and

send to Bob Sanders by June 25, 2003.   Bob will then compile and return by

June 27, 2003.    We will then review them one last time at our next

scheduled meeting on July 17, 2003.

 

--   The team favored the notion of making suggestions on the structure and

wording that could be used for "self declarations" of compliance (like that

which is required in China today).     If we can get the USDA to adopt or

recommend a consistent format and wording then perhaps it could become the

defacto standard for other countries to follow.    This would be a

proactive step to hopefully avoid each country having its own way on that

inevitability.

 

--   The team agreed that it would be good to include an all plywood pallet

drawing that is EIPS compliant in our knowledge base.    This was an

attempt to deal with nagging problems in China (imports/exports) to avoid

the necessity for Govt. issued certificates.      Dr. White agreed to

assist in evaluating specs via PDS.      He estimated that such a design

may require a one piece top and bottom deck with cutouts for the base piece

(cruciform) as opposed to individual strips of plywood forming the full

perimeter base.      Plywood may have to be 19/32" thickness to meet the

strength guidelines.      IBM will submit drawings to Dr. White to start

with and he'll work with us on that.       However, he will be overseas

next week and may not be able to get to it right away.   We will also

inquire with one of our pallet suppliers.

 

--  Previous indications that the initials "DB" can or should follow the

treatment markings for "debarked" wood do not seem to be gaining ground and

can probably be omitted from our specs.

 

--  EIPS Logo's:    We need to investigate officially trademarking these

logo's.    Bob Sanders will inquire with IoPP and/or the trademark office

to find out what is required to do that.

 

--  Next Meeting:    July 17, 2003     11am eastern time.

 

Special thanks for John Healy for his ongoing assistance and close

connections in the regulatory arena and to Dr. White for his deep knowledge

of pallet performance.

 

Thanks again for your ongoing patience, support and cooperation as these

issues evolve.     I still look forward to our vision of consistent high

quality [bug free] pallets moving through our collective supply chains to

the mutual benefit of all.    I hope you do too...

 

(See attached file: Australian Solid wood packaging cargo, June 15,

2003.doc)

 

 

Warmest Regards,

 

 

Bob Sanders, STSM

Corporate Packaging Programs

Global Logistics Operations Support, Integrated Supply Chain

Phone: 919-543-1260, Fax: 919-543-7996 (IBM T/L: 441)

External Email: btsander@US.IBM.COM