U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION FIELD OPERATIONS, NEW YORK PORT OF NEW YORK/NEWARK
INFORMATIONAL PIPELINE NO. 17-006-NWK
TO: All Importers, Carriers, Terminal Operators, CES Operators, Brokers and Others Concerned
SUBJECT: APHIS to Allow Incineration of Non-Compliant Maritime Cargo Dunnage at U.S. Ports of Entry
PURPOSE: The purpose of this pipeline is to inform the trade community that APHIS has amended its policy at U.S. Ports of entry staffed by CBP Agriculture Specialists for non-compliant WPM. APHIS will now allow incineration on Non-Compliant Maritime Cargo Dunnage.
BACKGROUND: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) revised import regulation for wood packaging materials (WPM)(7 CFR § 319.40) requires non-exempt WPM used in international trade to be marked with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo, the two-letter International Organization for Standardization (ISO) code for the country that treated the WPM, the treatment facility number assigned by the national plant protection organization, and either HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide.
ACTION: Effective November 1, 2016, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) will allow incineration as a secure disposal option for non-compliant dunnage from maritime cargo at U.S. ports of entry if there is access to an APHIS-approved incineration facility. This action will allow APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to more effectively address potential pest risks presented by the dunnage. Before this option may be used, incineration or waste facilities must have a compliance agreement with APHIS to destroy and dispose of non-compliant dunnage.
Transportation companies, shipping lines, and port authorities must have a compliance agreement with CBP to safeguard, manipulate, or transport non-compliant dunnage. To request a compliance agreement, contact your local APHIS office.
For questions regarding this policy change, please contact APHIS at 301-851-2075.
REPORT DRUG SMUGGLING TO CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION 1-800-BE-ALERT
