Pallet sector progresses international collaboration on ISPM 15

Industry representatives from across the world progressed their ISPM 15 international collaboration efforts at Interpal VIII (the Global Forum on Wooden Pallets and Packaging), held alongside the 64th FEFPEB (European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers) congress in Bordeaux.

Outgoing FEFPEB president Gil Covey, who has held the role for the last eight years, said international collaboration was vital to achieve the best possible outcomes for the industry on important issue like ISPM 15.

“If we can speak with a common voice to the regulators it will help ensure that they can introduce scientifically justified, harmonised and practical measures for the benefit of both the world’s forests and the global timber industry,” said Mr Covey.

“The positive discussions we had in Bordeaux have laid firm foundations for this.”

Plans to extend ISPM 15, which requires treatment of timber pallets to prevent the spread of forest pests, would involve factoring in intra-European movements of timber pallets and packaging.

But European Commission plant health experts DG Sanco is not expected to make any further announcement or decision on an extension before 2015.

The FEFPEB congress heard that FEFPEB had taken DG Sanco to a major pallet repair operation, with a further visit to a new pallet factory featuring extensive heat treatment and kiln drying facilities to be arranged soon in the Netherlands.

Delegates heard that DG Sanco and FEFPEB were fully engaged in dialogue. This year’s congress was held in conjunction with French pallet industry association Sypal.