The new measure establishes regular phytosanitary controls for certain imported goods in wooden packaging originating from China and Belarus. The aim is to ensure compliance with European Union requirements regarding the marking of wooden packaging material and to prevent the introduction of harmful organisms into the destination country.
The phytosanitary certificate is a necessary document to guarantee that goods from third countries are free from pests. This regulation is governed by Directive 2000/29/EC, which is incorporated into Royal Decree 58/2005. The document gathers the relevant information in a standardized model authorized by the National Phytosanitary Protection Organization (ONPF), under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food in Spain.
Plant products such as plants, seeds, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables need to have a phytosanitary certificate. However, the EU also considers this requirement for processed plant products, such as wood, if it is deemed to pose a risk of introducing pests into the importing country. Now it’s the turn of wooden packaging or pallets from China and Belarus.
The obligation to inspect all goods in wooden packaging caused a collapse in Plant Health with its entry into force on October 1st. To streamline customs procedures and goods clearance, it has been agreed that providing the sanitary certificate of origin, indicating compliance with ISPM 15 regulations, will suffice. The relaxation of the measure significantly streamlines procedures.
The list of goods subject to phytosanitary controls can be consulted in the Official Journal of the European Union. Member States are responsible for specifying what percentage of wooden packaging material of the specified goods must be subject to phytosanitary control, although for the sample to be considered representative, it cannot be less than 1% of wooden packaging.
Controls are carried out at the point of entry to the European Union or at the authorized destination site by the responsible official body. If the inspection is carried out at the destination site and non-compliance with any requirement is detected or the presence of harmful organisms is found, the Member State must, with proper handling of the material, proceed with its immediate destruction to ensure effective health protection.
Each Member State must notify the European Commission of the number of phytosanitary controls carried out and their results.
All packaging materials containing wood (crates, boxes, cages, pallets, loading platforms, pallet collars, dunnage wood…) must undergo inspections. Exempt are wood transformed by gluing, heat, or pressure, as well as wooden packaging material with a thickness equal to or less than 6 mm.
Specified goods from Belarus or China, supported, protected, or transported by wooden packaging material, must comply with the regulations. If you wish to import products affected by these requirements, consult with Bull Importer. Our company manages phytosanitary certificates for imports of plant products and wooden packaging. We work with approved and verified suppliers who comply with current EU regulations.
