The latest developments in the area of heat treatment requirements should be followed by everyone in the pallet industry. There are three invasive species that the pallet (and wood) industry isgoing to be dealing with in the near future: EAB (Emerald Ash Borer), Woodwasp (Spirax), and Pine Shoot Beetle.
The NWPCA (National Wood Pallet and Container Association) is working hard to get the government to implement nation-wide standards based on the international standard ISPM-15 for these reasons:
- Insure lower cost due to the use of private companies (with government accredidation) to inspect the pallet companies.
Just imagine having the government employees perform inspections with much recourse. Furthermore, goverment inspectors would require higher pay and make fewer inspections per day, meaning higher cost to you.
- Insure that pallets can GO ANYWHERE and not loose market share to Plastics or other materials for that reason.
It is in the interest of the Plastics industry to see a state based compliance program and limits the movement of wooden pallets, strangely the environmental group seems to be hoping for the same. We suggest you do not underestimate this threat and help NWPCA in their efforts.
- ISPM-15 is significantly cheaper and less intrusive to implement than any USDA standard (see below).
The current inspection system has proven to work and provide the inspection service at reasonable costs to the pallet industry. Most reasonable people will understand that any government implemented system will cost the pallet industry 2 to 4 times more.
- Insure competition across state lines.
Right now companies in Kenturck at the KY/IN border cannot get compliance agreement to sell into OH. And company in Indiana has a competitive disadvantage of more administrative work when shipping to KY. This is not right.
Most heat treatment has very similar requirements, which are:
We encourage you to study the exact regulations. Therefore, below you can see a summary of the main requirements for different countries and regions:
General comparison between different regions:
|
Rules
|
Only at
Certified
facilities
|
Temperature
|
Minimum
treatment
period.
|
Inspection
|
Sensor
calibration.
|
|
USDA T-304
|
Yes
|
71C / 160F
internally |
75 minutes |
Monthly
by USDA
|
Monthly +-0.5F
By government
inspector
|
| ISPM-15 |
Yes
|
56C / 133F
internally |
30 minutes |
Monthly
by private
company |
Annually +/-2F
By private
company
|
Maybe the ISPM-15 may need to be adjusted later to accommodate certain new domestic pests.
However, it is obvois that the semi-private system will be the best way for the pallet industry.
We are looking forward to working with and serving the pallet industry with the heat treatment kilns needed. However, we hope the less intrusive method will prevail. We would suggest you get involved and insure the industry does it's best to make sure this happens.
If you have any questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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