New pallet rules

MM&D MAGAZINE, MARCH/APRIL 2011

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is calling for enough time to prepare for rule changes governing the treatment of wood packaging materials (WPM) crossing the Canada-US border.

The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has proposed amending regulations that would remove an exemption allowing WPM from Canada into the US without meeting treatment and marking requirements—requirements currently applied to all other countries. Chemical or heat treatment reduces the spread of harmful insects.

In a submission to the APHIS, the CTA cautioned that there will be serious disruptions at the land border unless industry is given adequate time to prepare for the change.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans to eliminate a similar exemption for WPM entering Canada from the US.