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Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade - Annex 1 of ISPM 15

Approved treatments related to wood packaging material

Approved treatments may be applied to units of wood packaging material or to pieces of wood from which wood packaging material is to be made.
Use of debarked wood
Regardless of the type of treatment used, wood packaging material must be made from debarked wood. For the purposes of this International Standard, any number of visually distinct and distinct small areas of bark may remain if they:
- have a width of less than 3 cm (regardless of their length), or
- have a width of more than 3 cm with a total surface area of one individual piece of bark less than 50 square centimeters.
When treated with methyl bromide, bark removal must be carried out prior to treatment, as the presence of bark on the wood may affect the effectiveness of the treatment. During heat treatment, the removal of the bark can be carried out both before and after processing. If a dimensional limit is specified for a certain type of heat treatment (eg dielectric heating), the entire bark must be taken into account in the measurement.

Heat treatment
To achieve the required processing parameters, various energy sources or processes for its production can be used. For example, conventional drying in superheated steam, kiln drying, thermal chemical pressure impregnation and dielectric heating (microwave, high frequency field) may be considered heat treatments, provided that they comply with all the heat treatment parameters specified in this standard. .
NPPOs should take the necessary steps to ensure that processors monitor the treatment temperature at the coldest location, i.e. the location in the wood that takes the longest time to reach the target temperature, so that the target temperature is maintained throughout the treatment. lots of processed wood. The location of the coldest point of the wood may differ depending on the energy source or process used, the moisture content and the initial temperature distribution in the wood.

When using dielectric heating, the coldest part of the wood during processing is usually the surface. In some situations (for example, dielectric heating of large frozen wood until it thaws), the coldest part of the wood may be the core.

Heat treatment using gas-vapor or dry heating chambers (treatment code for marking: HT)
When using chamber heat treatment technology, the fundamental requirement is to reach a minimum temperature of 56°C continuously for at least 30 minutes throughout the entire thickness of the wood (including the core).

This temperature can be measured by placing temperature sensors in the core of the wood. In addition, when kilns or other heat treatment chambers are used, treatment regimens can be developed based on a series of test treatments during which the core wood temperature is measured at various locations in the heat treatment chamber and correlated with the air temperature in the chamber, taking into account the moisture content of the wood and other relevant parameters (such as the type and thickness of the wood, the intensity of the air flow and humidity). A series of tests must demonstrate that a minimum temperature of 56°C is maintained continuously for at least 30 minutes throughout the thickness of the wood.

Treatment modes should be specified or approved by the NPPO.
Handlers must be approved by the NPPO. NPPOs should consider the following factors that may need to be met in order for thermal chambers to meet processing requirements.
- The heat treatment chambers are hermetically sealed and have good thermal insulation, including insulation on the floor.
- The thermal chambers are designed in such a way that the air flow can circulate around and inside the stack of wood. The wood to be treated is positioned in the chamber in such a way as to ensure sufficient airflow around and within the stack of wood.
- If necessary, to ensure optimal air flow in the thermal chamber, air deflectors and inter-row spacers are used inside the stack.
- Fans are used during processing to circulate air, and the air flow from these fans is sufficient to maintain the temperature inside the wood at a given level for the required time.
- The coldest place in the chamber is determined with each load, and this is where the temperature sensors are located: either in the wood or in the chamber.
- If the treatment is monitored by temperature sensors placed in the wood, it is recommended to use at least two sensors. These temperature sensors must be capable of measuring core wood temperatures. The use of multiple temperature sensors ensures that any temperature sensor failure is detected during processing. Temperature sensors are inserted into the core of the wood at a distance of at least 30 cm from the edge. For shorter boards or pallet blocks, temperature sensors are also placed in the largest piece of wood in such a way as to provide a temperature measurement at the core. All holes drilled in wood to accommodate temperature sensors must be sealed with a suitable material to prevent interference with temperature measurement due to convection or conduction. Particular attention should be paid to external influences on the wood, such as nails or metal inserts, which may lead to incorrect measurements.
- If the treatment mode is based on monitoring the chamber air temperature and is used to process different types of wood (for example, depending on the species and size), the mode must take into account the type, moisture content and thickness of the treated wood. According to the processing mode, it is recommended to use at least two temperature sensors to monitor the air temperature in the chamber when processing wooden containers.
- If the air flow in the chamber changes regularly during processing, more temperature sensors may be needed to account for a possible change in the coldest place in the chamber.
- Temperature sensors and data recording equipment are calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions at intervals to be determined by the NPPO.

Heat treatment using dielectric heating (processing code for marking: DH)
When dielectric heating (e.g. microwave) is used, wood packaging material consisting of wood not exceeding 20 cm4 measured at the smallest dimension or stack must be heated to reach a minimum temperature of 60C continuously for 1 minute throughout the entire thickness of the wood (including surface). The set temperature must be reached within 30 minutes after the start of treatment.5.
Treatment modes should be specified or approved by the NPPO.
Handlers must be approved by the NPPO. NPPOs should consider the following factors, which may be required for dielectric heating chambers to meet processing requirements.
- Whether the dielectric heating treatment is carried out as a batch process or as a continuous (conveyor) process, the progress of the treatment is monitored in the wood where the temperature is most likely to be coldest (usually on the surface) to ensure that the desired temperature is maintained. When measuring temperature, it is recommended to use at least two temperature sensors to ensure that any temperature sensor errors are detected.
- The processor initially confirms that the temperature of the wood reaches or exceeds 60 C continuously for 1 minute throughout the thickness of the wood (including its surface).
- For wood thicker than 5 cm, 2.45 GHz dielectric heating should be provided by double-sided heaters or multiple waveguides to distribute the microwave energy and ensure uniform heating.
- Temperature sensors and data recording equipment are calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions at intervals to be determined by the NPPO.
- For auditing purposes, processors shall retain data from heat treatments and calibrations for a period of time to be determined by the NPPO.
Methyl bromide treatment (labeling treatment code: MB)
NPPOs are encouraged to promote the use of alternative treatments approved in this standard6. The use of methyl bromide should take into account the CPM recommendation to replace or reduce the use of methyl bromide as a phytosanitary measure (CPM, 2008).
Wood packaging material consisting of pieces of wood larger than 20 cm as measured by the smallest dimension must not be treated with methyl bromide.
Methyl bromide fumigation of wood packaging material must be carried out in accordance with a schedule specified or approved by the NPPO that achieves the minimum concentration-time product7 (CT) over a 24-hour period at the temperature and final residual concentration shown in Table 1. This is the CT value should be achieved throughout the entire thickness of the wood, including its core, although concentrations are measured in the surrounding atmosphere. The minimum temperature of the wood and its surrounding atmosphere must be at least 10 C, and the minimum exposure time must be at least 24 hours. Monitoring of gas concentration should be carried out after 2, 4 and 24 hours from the start of treatment. In the case of longer exposure times and lower concentrations, additional measurements of the gas concentration at the end of fumigation should be recorded.
If CV is not achieved after 24 hours, corrective action should be taken to ensure that CV is achieved; for example, restart the treatment or extend the treatment time by a maximum of 2 hours without adding more methyl bromide to achieve the required CT.

Handlers must be approved by the NPPO. NPPOs should consider the following factors that may be required for methyl bromide fumigation to meet treatment requirements.
- During the gas distribution phase of fumigation, fans are routinely used to ensure even permeation; they should be placed in such a way as to ensure rapid and effective distribution of the fumigant throughout the fumigated room (preferably within the first hour of application).
- Fumigated rooms should not be loaded more than 80% of their volume.
- The rooms to be fumigated must be well sealed and, as far as possible, gas-tight. If it is necessary to carry out fumigation under the film, then the latter must be made of a gas-tight material and securely sealed at the seams and at floor level.
- The floor at the fumigation site must be impervious to the fumigant; if it is permeable, a gas-tight cover is laid over it.
- It is recommended to use methyl bromide through an evaporator (“hot gassing”) to completely evaporate the fumigant when it enters the fumigated room.
- Methyl bromide treatment of wood packaging material larger than 20 cm as measured by the smallest dimension should not be carried out. For this reason, a separator for stacks of wood packaging material may be needed to ensure the required circulation and penetration of methyl bromide.
- The airspace methyl bromide concentration is always measured at the location furthest from the gas injection site, as well as at other locations throughout the room (e.g. front bottom, center middle, and rear top), to confirm achievement of even distribution of gas. The start of processing is counted when a uniform distribution is achieved.
- When calculating the dosage of methyl bromide, it is necessary to take into account the presence of compensation for any gas mixtures (for example, 2% chloropicrin) to ensure that the total amount of methyl bromide applied meets the required dosage rates.
- Initial dosage rates and post-treatment handling procedures should take into account the potential for methyl bromide uptake by treated wood packaging material or items used with it (eg polystyrene boxes).
- The measured or expected temperature of the product or ambient air immediately before or during processing (whichever is lower) is used to calculate the dose of methyl bromide.
- Wood packaging material to be fumigated must not be wrapped or covered with materials impervious to the fumigant.
- Temperature and gas sensors and data recording equipment are calibrated according to the manufacturer's instructions at intervals to be determined by the NPPO.
- For auditing purposes, processors retain methyl bromide treatments and calibrations for a period of time to be determined by the NPPO.

Acceptance of alternative treatments and revision of approved treatment schemes
As new technical information becomes available, existing treatments may be reviewed and modified, and alternative treatments or new treatment schemes for wood packaging material may be approved by the CPM. If a new treatment or revised treatment scheme is approved for wood packaging material and included in this ISPM, material already treated under the terms of a previously approved treatment and/or scheme does not need to be re-treated or re-labelled.