Many pest outbreaks around the world have been traced to the packaging materials used to transport goods through international ports. As a result, numerous countries have established restrictions designed to stop the introduction of insects and other pests, resulting in many complicated and difficult regulations.

The United Nations created a global standard for pest control in March, 2002, to remedy this situation. These regulations apply to ALL solid wood packaging material (pallets, crates, braces, etc.) when used for international trade.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), created a treaty among 115 countries which is administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The new IPPC standard requires that all solid wood packaging material used for international shipping must be treated against possible insect infestation and marked accordingly. Approved treatment measures include heat-treatment and chemical fumigation with methyl bromide.

Adoption of the IPPC standars will take place in the last half of 2003 as each member country develops and implements its own conforming regulations.

Your wood pallets will be subject to this new ruling, wherever you are shipping your product in the world!

Goods shipped to international ports on pallets or crates that are not properly treated against insects may be held at dockside, costing you money and valuable time. If insect infestation is found, you may be fined and your shipment may be rejected or even destroyed.