Through the Decision 2001/219/EC from the Commission of the European Communities dated 12 March 2001, are established temporary emergency measures in respect of wood packing comprised in whole or in part of non-manufactured coniferous wood originating in Canada, China, Japan and the United States of America on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community. Measures shall be complied with susceptible wood originating in mentioned countries destined to the Community as from next October 1, 2.001 inclusive.

Harmful organism is the pine wood NEMATODE (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al., about same, Finland informed the other Member States and the Commission that in monitoring inspections carried out in 2000 numerous infestations of non-manufactured coniferous wood packing material originating in Canada, Japan and the United States of America with PWN have been found. Moreover, infestations of non-manufactured coniferous wood packing material originating in Canada and China were also reported by Sweden and France respectively.

For the purposes of this Decision "susceptible wood" means wood packing comprised in whole or in part of non-manufactured wood of conifers, except that of Thuja L., originating in Canada, China, Japan and the United States of America in the form of packing cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packings, pallets, box pallets and other load boards, pallet collars, whether or not actually in use in the transport of objects of all kinds. Susceptible wood from Canada, China, Japan and the United States of America may only be introduced into the territory of the Community if it complies with the following emergency measures:

(i) shall be heat treated or kiln dried to a minimum core temperature of 56 °C for at least 30 minutes in a closed chamber or kiln which has been tested, evaluated and approved officially for this purpose. In addition the susceptible wood shall display an officially approved heat- treated or kiln-dried marking enabling the identification of where and by whom the above treatment has been carried out; or

(ii) shall have been pressure (impregnated) treated with an approved chemical in accordance with an officially recognized technical specification. In addition the susceptible wood shall display a marking enabling the identification of where and by whom the above treatment has been carried out; or

(iii) shall have been fumigated with an approved chemical in accordance with an officially recognized technical specification. In addition the susceptible wood shall display a marking enabling the identification of where and by whom the above fumigation has been carried out.

When, it appears that the provisions have not been complied with in relation to susceptible wood, the Member State concerned shall ensure that the susceptible wood is either:

- treated in an officially approved manner that eliminates Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al.,

- refused entry into the Community,

- destroyed by either:

- incineration,

- deep burial in sites approved by responsible official bodies referred to in Directive 2000/29/EC, or

- processing in an officially approved manner that eliminates Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner et Buhrer) Nickle et al.

All such measures shall be carried out under the official supervision of the Member State concerned.

For official and exact wording please refer to the Decision 2001/219/EC from the Commission of the European Communities dated 12 March 2001

Additional information at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/swp/eunmwp.html