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
TIMBER PRODUCTS September 2020 HT Newsletter Volume: 09/07/2020
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
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.
Witty Humour
"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving is definitely not for you."
Steven Wright
"Maybe if we tell people the brain is an app they'll start using it."
Anon
"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
New QC Procedures Being Distributed
TP has updated its Quality Control (QC) Procedures. Version 4.0 is being distributed by our Inspectors and once a facility has this updated version in place, all previous versions should be disposed of. The English version can also be printed from the "Documents" tab at the Export Wood Packaging section of our website. Follow this link for easy access: https://www.tpinspection.com/auditing-services/export-wood-packaging.
Mark Retrieval Protocol
The American Lumber Standard Committee, Inc. (ALSC) Wood Packaging Material Enforcement Regulations from November 7, 2014 state in Section 5.6.12:
"An accredited agency shall retain on file a facsimile of each quality mark issued, require worn out or discarded quality marks to be destroyed, and require missing or stolen quality marks be reported to the agency. 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."
The marks issued to a facility related to the IPPC/HT program are highly regulated by the U.S. Government. These marks come in various forms:
- Stamps
- Brands
- Stencils
- Inkjet systems
Regardless of the types possessed, TP is required by ALSC regulations to maintain an inventory of all IPPC/HT related marks to verify there is no change in mark numbers that is unaccounted for. Marks that are damaged or too worn to continue using should be held for retrieval by the TP Inspector. They should not be disposed of or destroyed by the facility since TP must reconcile the inventory each month. Once unusable marks are retrieved, the TP Inspector will update the inventory form and the mark will be properly disposed of.
The security of all marks is critical and lost or missing marks can create a non-conformance for the facility. Ongoing issues with the security of marks can lead to very serious consequences, so facilities need to make certain all marks are kept up with and properly secured when not in use.