With effect from 1 October 2018, the EU Commission has re-regulated the procedure for checking packaging materials made of wood used for the transport of certain products originating in Belarus and the PRC. Until now, only corresponding consignments originating in the PRC have been affected by the control. However, the corresponding regulation only applied until 31 July 2018 (see message dated 25.4.2017). With effect from 1 October 2018, the EU Commission has reregulated the procedure for checking packaging materials made of wood used for the transport of certain products originating in Belarus and the PRC. Until now, only corresponding consignments originating in the PRC have been affected by the control. However, the corresponding regulation only applied until 31 July 2018.

The experience of phytosanitary inspections has shown that the procedure for checking wood packaging material used for the transport of certain products originating in Belarus and the PRC needs to be revised.

The new Regulation, adopted by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1137 of 10 August 2018, provides that airport and port authorities, other official bodies responsible for controlling trade in goods or any operator involved in the importation of specified goods with wood packaging material in future should notify in advance customs office at the point of entry and the responsible official body at the place of entry must, as soon as they have knowledge, of the imminent arrival of this wood packaging material.

In addition, the wood packaging material of consignments containing the specified goods must be regularly subjected to phytosanitary inspections. To ensure that a representative sample is checked, Member States shall set a percentage for wood packaging material of the specified goods subject to phytosanitary controls, which rate may not be less than 1% of the imported wood packaging material of the specified goods.

Until the phytosanitary checks are completed, the wood packaging material and the specified goods remain under customs supervision. This will ensure that there is no phytosanitary risk for the free movement of these products within the territory of the Union.

The term “wood packaging material” includes wood or wood products used to support, protect or transport a good, in the form of packing crates, wrapper, drums and similar packaging, pallets, box pallets and other decking, and pallet collars and dunnage, independent of whether they are actually used in the carriage of goods of any kind.

Excluded from this are:

further processed wood produced using glue, heat or pressure or a combination thereof, and packaging material made entirely of wood less than 6 mm thick.

Measures shall apply to wood packaging materials used for the transport of specified goods originating in the said countries. Which goods are considered to be specified is finally regulated in Annex I to the Implementing Decision.

Until the new measures enter into force, the rules of Implementing Decision 2013/92 / EU shall continue to apply. For the sake of clarity, it will be repealed on 1 October 2018 with the entry into force of Implementing Decision 2018/1137.

Reference:

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1137 of 10 August 2018.