A worker claimed they had become ill after handling packaging on goods from abroad and blamed insect infestation. The union cited a report that showed emerald ash borer had been carried into the US on pallets.
TIMCON, the UK timber packaging and pallet confederation, described the GMB statement as irresponsible and highly misleading. “Potentially this is damaging to a very important UK industry on which a significant number of workers rely for their livelihoods.”
TIMCON general secretary Stuart Hex said: “There are in place significant international phytosanitary regulations to minimise the risk of pest infestation in packaging and these regulations are rigidly enforced in the UK by the Forestry Commission.”
