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TIMBER PRODUCTS June 2021 HT Newsletter Volume: 06/21/2021
Online Newsletter
Matt McGowan - WPM Program Manager
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
mmcgowan@tpinspection.com
Office: 770.785.4769
Mobile: 678.480.2451
Mobile: 678.480.2451
For more information on the IPPC program
Please contact:
Matt McGowan
WPM Program Manager
Peachtree City GA
Office 770.785.4769
Mobile 678.480.2451
The unauthorized and/or fraudulent use of the TP IPPC mark is illegal and a situation we take seriously. Anyone with information regarding the misuse of IPPC marks should contact TP's WPM Manager immediately. Thank you for helping to protect the integrity of the ISPM 15 program which is vital to our business and economy.
Wisdom from Our Founding Fathers:
John Adams
“I fear that in every elected office, members will obtain an influence by noise not sense. By meanness, not greatness. By ignorance, not learning. By contracted hearts, not large souls . . . There must be decency and respect.”
“Human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net.”
“The true source of our suffering has been our timidity. We have been afraid to think. . . . Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.”
“The prospect now before us in America ought . . . to engage the attention of every man of learning to matters of power and right, that we may be neither led nor driven blindfolded to irretrievable destruction.”
"Abuse of words has been the great instrument of sophistry and chicanery, of party, faction, and division of society.”
"Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion... in private self-defense."
To Puntificate
No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationary.
Whoever invented knock-knock jokes should get a no-bell prize.
Instagram is when you put Grandma on speed dial.
Energizer bunny arrested: Charged with battery.
I have a few jokes about unemployed people, but none of them work.
The Importance of the HT Mark
The heat treatment or "HT" mark identifies individual pieces of commondity length lumber or lumber components as being heat-treated in conformance with ISPM 15 standards. The mark contains 3 elements; the facility number, the initials of the treatment type (HT) and the agency trademark. The HT mark must be applied legibly a minimum of one time per individual piece and 100% of pieces must be marked. The mark serves in establishing a chain of custody between the site that treated the raw materials and the facility that will certify finished WPM as ISPM 15 conforming. This mark is NOT recognized as a replacement for the IPPC mark.
Only HT marks from an ALSC accredited agency can verify material as heat treated in the U.S. Non-ALSC HT marks are not valid to use in the manufacture of WPM that will receive a U.S. IPPC mark. ALSC also does not recognize IPPC marks as verification of HT. For example, TP has seen components coming into the U.S. from Brazil with a Brazilian IPPC mark on each piece and this cannot be used as evidence of HT. In this situation, the Brazilian IPPC mark must be obliterated from each piece even if being used in the manufacture of non-IPPC related WPM.
If a facility orders HT material it is their responsibility to ensure the received material has been properly HT marked. If the material has not been properly marked on each piece, those pieces that do not have the mark are not considered heat treated and can only be used in the manufacture of packaging that does not receive an IPPC mark. Paperwork certifying the material as HT cannot be a substitute for each piece being marked for conformance to be met. In cases where a facility receives material that is represented as HT but is not marked, they should segregate the material from any HT material onsite that is properly marked and contact their vendor to replace the unmarked material. This unmarked material should also be removed from the HT received footage documentation if it was added to it.
If IPPC marked WPM is found to be manufactured with material that was not properly HT marked, the IPPC's marks will need to be obliterated and the WPM used in a domestic non-HT application, or heat treated so that the IPPC marks can legally represent the WPM as meeting ISPM 15 requirements.
Stamp Inventories and Security
The importance of ensuring the proper use, care and security of IPPC related marks cannot be overstated. ALSC regulations 5.6.12 states that:
- "Quality marks shall only be used at facilities..."
- "Accredited agencies shall require a participating facility to provide care and security of the agency quality marks."
- "An accredited agency shall have an ongoing practice of reporting and reviewing stamp inventories, generally monthly, to ensure reconciliation in agency records regarding the types and number of stamps issued to each facility."
- "The agency shall report missing, stolen, or misuse of its quality marks to the Board as soon as the agency is aware of such."
When an Inspector visits a facility, they will check the stamp inventory against the previous month's count to ensure that marks are all accounted for. It is advisable for a facility to establish a secure area to store marks when not in use and this will allow the TP Inspector to more easily reconcile the stamp inventory on their visit. If a facility has a mark that is damaged or worn out to where it is no longer usable, it should be held for retrieval by your TP Inspector so that the inventory numbers can be updated. Likewise, if new stamps are received, this should be confirmed with the TP Inspector so those marks can be added to the inventory. Stamp security is critical as a stamp that is stolen or fished out of a trash bin from a facility can be misused. If this should happen, it puts an unnecessary liability on the operation if that stamp is placed on non-HT WPM. Please make certain that all IPPC and HT marks are kept secure, at your facility, at all times.