APHIS Issues Final Rule on Importation of Wood Chips Derived from Temperate Species of Eucalyptus from South America
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective January 15, 2004, which amends its regulations at 7 CFR 319 on the importation of logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood articles into the U.S. to allow wood chips derived from temperate species of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) from South America to be treated with a surface pesticide prior to importation as an alternative to the existing treatments.
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APHIS' Final Rule Does Not Address Tropical Logs, Lumber, and Wood Chips
In its proposed rule, APHIS also addressed the importation of logs, lumber, and wood chips from tropical species of Eucalyptus from South America. However, APHIS states that at this time, it has only received requests that indicate interest in importing large volumes of wood chips of temperate species of Eucalyptus from South America.
APHIS states that it is continuing to consider the entry requirements for tropical species of Eucalyptus.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 09/29/03 news, 03092915, for BP summary of APHIS' proposed rule for both temperate and tropical products.)
APHIS' Final Rule Allows Alternative Surface Pesticide Treatment for Temperate Wood Chips
Because the current treatments for temperate wood chips, which include fumigation with methyl bromide, heat treatment, and heat treatment with moisture reduction, can be impractical to effectively apply to large volumes of wood chips, APHIS believes that it is necessary to provide an effective, alternative treatment option for those wishing to import larger shipments of wood chips to produce wood pulp for paper.
Therefore, APHIS is amending 7 CFR 319.40-6(c)(1) and 319.40-7(e) and (e)(2), which concern the universal importation options for wood chips and surface pesticide treatments, respectively, in order to allow the same surface pesticide treatment used on Pinus radiata wood chips from Chile to be used on wood chips from South America that are derived from temperate species of Eucalyptus.
(APHIS sources have previously stated that it is expected that this surface pesticide treatment will be the preferred method of treatment. )
APHIS contact - Hesham Abuelnaga (301) 734-5334
APHIS final rule (D/N 02-097-2, FR Pub 01/15/04) available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-875.pdf