SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF FREIGHT
FORWARDERS-KZN
(Affiliated to the South African Association of Freight Forwarders)
1st Floor · Chamber House · 190 Stanger Street · Durban 4001 · PO Box 1506 · Durban 4000
Tel:031-335100
Fax:031-3321288
Email: ottoj@durbanchamber.co.za
Secretaries: Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
7th October 2004.
TO ALL MEMBERS:
REGULATION OF WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS.
Members will be aware that effective the 1st of January 2005 South Africa will implement
the requirements of the International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM15),
"Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade”,
This implies that all raw wood packaging material entering and leaving South Africa will
have to be treated and marked in accordance with the requirements of ISPM 15.
The “Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material In International Trade”
(ISPM15) are available at the web site of the International Plant Protection Convention
http://www.ippc.int or from the undersigned.
Effective 01/01/05 all wood packaging material, including dunnage, made of
unprocessed raw wood, either imported into or exported from South Africa must
have been treated in a manner outlined in ISPM15 and marked as such in
accordance with Annex II of the same regulation.
Members should advise their clients of these requirements as a matter of urgency.
The Association has been advised by the Department of Agriculture that Plant Health
Inspectors will be authorised to examine international cargo to ensure compliance
however there will be no requirement for documentary evidence confirming such
compliance to accompany the goods or be produced at the time of customs clearance.
Importers should ensure that foreign suppliers are made aware of this regulation and
that all raw wood packaging included in shipments to arrive after 01/01/05 is treated and
marked correctly.
For Exporters, lists of both Registered South African Fumigators and Manufacturers of
Treated Wood Packaging are available from the undersigned.
The majority of South Africa’s trading partners are about to, or already have,
implemented similar regulations. (An up to date list of these countries is also available
from the undersigned)
Apart from complying with South African law in ensuring that only treated and correctly
marked raw wood packaging is utilised, exporters should contact their foreign customers
to ascertain if there are any additional documentary requirements in destination
countries.
Wood packaging material made of unprocessed raw wood is a pathway for the
introduction and spread of pests and diseases. The rules are intended to protect South
Africas’ environment, economy and people. Importers, Exporters, Freight Forwarders
and all other parties involved in the logistics chain should make every effort to ensure
the success of these new regulations.
D.H.Watts
SAAFF-KZN
dhwatts@mweb.co.za
SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF FREIGHT
FORWARDERS-KZN
(Affiliated to the South African Association of Freight Forwarders)
1st Floor · Chamber House · 190 Stanger Street · Durban 4001 · PO Box 1506 · Durban 4000
Tel:031-335100
Fax:031-3321288
Email: ottoj@durbanchamber.co.za
Secretaries: Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry
18th October 2004.
TO ALL MEMBERS:
REGULATION OF WOOD PACKAGING MATERIALS.
Further to SAAFF-KZN Circular 131-2004 of the 7th October concerning the captioned
matter, the Department of Agriculture have made the following relevant comments.
1, Inspectors are already authorised to inspect in terms of the Agricultural Pests Act,
1983 ( Act no 36 of 1983). The requirements of ISPM 15 are an extension of their
normal duties.
2, The IPPC approved mark indicating compliance with ISPM 15 needs to appear on two
opposite sides of affected wood packaging material.
Dave Watts
SAAFF-KZN
dhwatts@mweb.co.za