. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/NZL/344 
24 February 2006 
 (06-0792) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).  
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):  Wood packaging material is defined as wood or wood products (excluding 
paper products) used in material supporting,  protecting or carrying a commodity. This 
includes items such as dunnage, crates, fillets, spacers, pallets, drums, reels, and gluts  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries  
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Import Health Standard 
Wood Packaging Material from all countries (available in English, 8 pages).  
6. Description of content:  Wood packaging material is defi ned as wood or wood products 
(excluding paper products) used in material supporting, protecting or carrying a commodity.  
Wood packaging material includes items such  as dunnage, crates, fillets, spacers, pallets, 
drums, reels, and gluts.  Although exempt fro m ISPM 15, peeler cores are regulated by New 
Zealand MAF under this standard when they are used for wood packaging. 
 The most important revision is that, upon im plementation of this standard, expected 
1 May 2006, treatment of all wood packagi ng will be mandatory and untreated imported 
wood packaging will be treated, reshipped or destro yed.  It is important to note that this 
requirement applies to both containerised and uncontainerised/break bulk cargo.  
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. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [ X ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   G/SPS/N/NZL/344 
Page 2  
 
  9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  New Zealand 
existing import requirements for wood p ackaging material can  be accessed at:  
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/fore sts/standards/non-viab le-forest-produce/wood-
packaging.htm  
The consultation documents  can be found here:  http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/strategy-and-
consultation/consultation/ihs  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  1 May 2006  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 May 2006  
12. Final date for comments:  18 April 2006.  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification 
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  Senior Advisor, Forestry, Le vel 13, MAF Biosecurity New 
Zealand, PO Box 2526, 25 The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand.  Fax:  +64 4 819 0662.  
Email:  plantimports@maf.govt.nz  
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notifica tion authority, [   ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  
Ms Sally Griffin, Coordinator, SPS New Zeala nd, PO Box 2526, Wellington, New Zealand.  
Tel:  +64 4 819 0431;  Fax:  +64 4 819 0731;  E-mail:  sps@maf.govt.nz 
Website:  http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/ sps/transparency/no tifications/index.htm