G/SPS/N/CAN/1359  
 
7 December 2020  
(20-8781) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):   
− HS Code: 441520000102 - Stand alone pallets, box pallets and other load boards, 
pallet collars - no ash material (shipborne dunnage)  
− HS Code: 441520000103 - Stand alone pallets, box pallets and other load boards, 
pallet collars - with ash material (shipborne dunnage)  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regi ons or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  RMD-20-02 Risk Management Document on Shipborne 
Dunnage Program . Language(s):  English and French . Number of pages:  15 and 18  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CAN/20_7472_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/CAN/20_7472_00_f.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Since 2008, all dunnage that is discharged in Canada is 
considered non -compliant as segregation of ISPM -compliant and non -compliant dunnage 
after discharg e has been difficult. Inspection after discharge through piles of dunnage is 
a safety hazard and inefficient. Also, the CFIA periodically finds traces of living pests in 
ISPM-15-stamped wood packaging material, including shipborne dunnage. RMD -20-02 
propos es four risk management options to uniformly, safely and efficiently manage 
shipborne dunnage brought into Canada. The recommended option is an audit -based 
program with preventive control plans that restrict reuse of shipborne dunnage during 
low-risk perio ds and asks for mandatory disposal during high -risk periods.  
7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) : ISPM 15: 
Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade  G/SPS/N/CAN/1359  
 
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  [ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  The CFIA supports ISPM 15 and is committed to implementing 
programs promoting the use of ISPM -compliant wood packaging material (WPM). 
WPM compliant with ISPM 15 would normally be permitted to be discharged with no 
further restrictions. However, live pests are continuously found by the CFIA on 
ISPM-stamped WPM, including shipborne dunnage. CFIA has also found WPM without 
ISPM stamps to be co -mingled with stamped WPM, particularly with shipborne dunnage.  
Therefore, the CFIA is proposing four risk management options to safely and efficiently 
manage shipborne dunnag e brought into Canada.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Directive  D-98-08: Entry requirements for wood packaging material into Canada ,  
https://www.inspection.gc.ca/plant -health/plant -pests-invasive -
species/directives/forest -products/d -98-08/eng/1323963831423/1323964135993  
(English)  
Directive D -98-08: Exigences relatives à l'entrée au Canada des matériaux d'emballage 
en bois, https://www.inspection.gc.ca/protection -des-vegetaux/phytoravageurs -
especes -envahissantes/directives/produits -forestiers/d -98-
08/fra/1323963831423/1323964135993  (French)  
10. Proposed date of adop tion (dd/mm/yy) : Summer 2021  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Summer 2021  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Late fall 2021 or early winter 2022  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 11 January 2021  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax  number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Tel: +(343) 203 4273  
Fax: +(613) 943 0346  
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca