Wood for Packaging to undergo treatment

Akyawkrom (Ash), Aug 12, GNA - Henceforth, all wood used as packaging material in international trade has to undergo treatment to kill all pests living in them to prevent their introduction into and spread in importing countries. A release from the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services (PPRS) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said this was in response to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measure (ISPM) Number 15 of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) guidelines for regulating Wood Packaging Material (WPM) in international trade.

It said in Ghana, PPRS had the mandate to ensure that WPM in international trade complied with the guidelines of this standard. The release said the new guidelines affect all raw wood packaging material that could serve as a pathway for plant pests, thus posing a threat to forest and timber.

It said the new guidelines covered WPM such as pallets, dunnage, crating, packing blocks, drums, cases, load boards, pallet collars and skids and wedges.

The release said WPM made wholly of wood-based products such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer produced using glue, heat and pressure or any combination of these should be considered sufficient to have eliminated the risk associated with the raw wood. 12 Aug. 05