Transporters warned on wooden pallets

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has called on transporters and road hauliers to ensure that all wooden crates and pallets have been treated to the appropriate standards as they can be held responsible if these packing materials are found to be in their possession. According to Enica Tshiame of the department, all wood packing materials have to conform to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures no 15 (ISPM no. 15) that states that they must be treated either through heat or methyl bromide. “As transporters you need to be aware that the pallets and the crates on which the goods that you are transporting are packed have to be of a certain standard according to ISPM No 15,” she said at the fourth Cross Border Forum in Pretoria recently. Tshiame said the message was also being taken to traders and owners of goods to ensure that untreated wood packaging was no longer being used in South Africa. While it is ultimately the shipper’s responsibility to ensure that his or her cargo is packed in accordance with ISPM 15, Tshiame said anyone found in possession of untreated packaging would be held responsible. “This standard applies to all packaging materials such as crates, boxes, packing cases, dunnage, pallets, cable drums and spools or reels made of raw wood.” According to Tshiame the standard is being implemented in South Africa in an effort to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of most quarantine pests that may be associated with wooden packaging materials. “Several treatment providers have been registered and can be found on the department website.” Asked about pallets and other packaging materials coming into South Africa from neighbouring countries, Tshiame said provision had been made for the pallets either to be treated, destroyed or returned immediately to the country of origin. “We have control measures in place to ensure that those pallets do not get re-used in South Africa,” she said. Tshiame said noncompliance with the standard could result in serious penalties being imposed.