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TIMBER PRODUCTS May 2019 HT Newsletter Volume: 05/23/2019
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
Conyers 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.
Addendums
Addendums are additional documentation used to clarify special situations that can occur at a facility. It is important to know when an addendum is needed so that non-conformances can be avoided due to confusion that can occur surrounding a special situation.
Scenarios where an Addendum is needed:
- Records for a secondary location kept at a main facility.
- Lumber reg. 6.2.3 or 6.2.2 used.
- Reused pallets being sorted (a.k.a. Passthroughs).
- When a kit or knockdown is built.
- When one location splits into 2 companies.
- Any special situation where confusion is possible on where ready-to-ship material is located.
- When WPM is marked prior to heat treating.
Addendum requirements:
- On facility letterhead.
- Describes the situation needing an addendum.
- Describes the process details.
- Identifies specific area to audit for conformance.
- Signed by responsible personnel.
- Final approval from TP management.
Prepare For Every Visit.
It is very important that each facility in the IPPC WPM program is prepared for a visit by your TP Inspector and potentially ALSC. This preparation includes:
- Making sure that QC procedures are in place and multiple personnel at the facility can locate them.
- Ensuring monthly receiving and shipping records are completed (in board footage) early in the month and are accessible.
- Facilities with heat chambers should confirm:
- That the minimum ISPM 15 standards are met for the material that is treated.
- That all HT reports have been printed, review and signed off on as conforming and then organized for TP or ALSC review.
- Any charges failing to meet conformance are documented and the related charge retreated.
- Confirming all lumber received and inventoried as HT is properly marked and segregated from non-HT material.
- Ensuring all IPPC marked WPM meets the bark requirements.
- Making certain any recycled WPM has old marks obliterated.
- Verifying all stamps meet the IPPC requirements (see article above).
There should be alternate personnel at each facility that has an understanding of the program and can fill in for the main contact if they are unavailable. There are tools that can be employed to assist in the meeting of these standards and these can be provided by your inspector if requested.
Stamp Legibility Becomes More Critical
Customs officials in ISPM 15 participating countries are becoming more and more critical regarding the legibility of IPPC marks. It is very important that facilities verify that the proper marks are applied to the required locations on wood packaging material (WPM) so that the ISPM 15 standard is met. Facilities that fail to do this are finding that they or their customers will experience expensive consequences if WPM is not properly marked. These consequences include the repackaging of product using ISPM 15 conforming WPM or the re-exporting of the entire contents of the container back to the U.S. port. Before shipping ISPM 15 conforming WPM make sure that:
- All components of the WPM shipping meet treating requirements for ISPM 15 (fumigation or heat).
- The bark standards are met.
- Old IPPC marks on repaired WPM have been obliterated.
- The correct IPPC marks are applied to the WPM.
- The IPPC marks applied meet the minimum legibility and placement requirements.
- Red or orange color is NOT used to apply the IPPC mark.
It is also a good idea to place the IPPC marks on WPM so that Customs officials can see them when the container is opened. Attention to detail is very important with Customs and ensuring the ISPM 15 standards are met on all IPPC marked WPM being shipped can save you and your customer substantial headaches both logistically and financially.
We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.
Charles R. Swindoll