United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

 

Alternative Heat Treatment for Chinese Wooden Handicrafts

Treatment Evaluation Document

Date: May 2010 

Treatment Type: Heat Treatment

Commodity: Wooden Handicrafts

Country of origin: China 

Objective: To provide justification for a proposed amendment to the regulations for 

unmanufactured wood articles and the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment 

Manual to reduce treatment of wooden handicrafts from 71.1o C for at least 75 minutes to 

60o C for 60 minutes. 

Overview: The importation of Chinese handicrafts was suspended in 2005 in response to 

insect pests that were intercepted on the handicrafts. In 2009, APHIS published a 

proposed rule to allow for imports of Chinese wooden handicrafts to resume subject to 

certain conditions, including the universal heat treatment at 71.1o C for at least 75 

minutes. The universal treatment is a default used in the absence of more pest-specific 

treatment efficacy information. Since publication of the proposed rule, a new peerreviewed study has been published on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a heat-resistant 

insect, which is closely associated with the pests APHIS identified as likely to follow the 

pathway of Chinese wooden handicrafts. The study recommends using a lower 

temperature, 60o C, for a shorter duration, 60 minutes, to treat firewood, a commodity 

that poses similar or more significant pest risks than handicrafts. APHIS reviewed the 

new treatment data contained in this article and all references related to wood insects that 

were used in the development of the International Plant Protection Convention’s (IPPC’s) 

International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) No. 15 (56 oC for at least 30 

minutes). (See attached list of references.) Based on that review, we conclude the 

treatment developed in the study for EAB is an appropriate treatment option to mitigate 

the risk associated with the importation of Chinese handicrafts. 

Historical Background: APHIS suspended the importation of Chinese wooden 

handicrafts in 2005, based on 304 live insect pest interceptions from January 2002 – 

February 2005. In April 2009, APHIS proposed to amend the regulations in “Logs, 

1
Lumber, and Other Unmanufactured Wood Articles” (7 CFR 319.40) to allow for 

imports of Chinese wooden handicrafts to resume subject to certain conditions, including 

heat treatment at 71.1o C for at least 75 minutes. Comments received on the proposed 

rule questioned the use of the universal heat treatment, an all-inclusive treatment which 

requires a high temperature to meet fungi concerns. The commenter requested that we 

allow treatment consistent with IPPC’s ISPM No. 15 (56 oC for at least 30 minutes). 

In December 2009, a new study was published, which validates that EAB is a heatresistant insect and that an EAB host article, firewood, must be heated to 60o C, minimum 

core temperature, for a minimum of 60 minutes to obtain mortality of the insect. 

Previous scientific information suggested that ISPM 15 was efficacious for all other 

insects determined by APHIS to be most likely to follow the pathway of Chinese 

handicrafts. That data showed effective treatment for the families: Anobiidae, 

Bostrychidae, Cerambycidae, Cucujidae, Curculionidae, Dermestidae, Lyctidae, Ptinidae, 

Tenebrionidae, Formicidae, Kalotermitidae, Tineidae, Pyralidae, Blattellidae, Blattidae, 

and Lepisimatidae. In light of this study, APHIS will issue a supplemental proposal that 

would decrease the previously published heat treatment from the universal heat treatment 

to 60 oC, minimum core temperature, for a minimum of 60 minutes. 

Evaluation: APHIS has determined that lowering the heat treatment requirements for 

Chinese wooden handicrafts would mitigate the pest risk to the United States associated 

with the importation of these articles. In addition, this action is consistent with our 

responsibilities to the IPPC to take action that represents the least restrictive measure 

available and result in the minimum impediment to international trade. 

Decision: Amend 7 CFR 319 and the PPQ Treatment Manual to approve heat treatment 

at 60o C for 60 minutes for Chinese wooden handicrafts imported into the United States. 

Imports of Chinese handicrafts would also have to meet all other applicable requirements 

in 7 CFR 305. 

References: 

Myers, S. W., I. Fraser and V. C. Mastro. 2009. Evaluation of heat treatment 

schedules for emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 102:2048-

2055. 

Author: John T. Jones 

 Forestry and Forestry Products Trade Director

USDA APHIS PPQ PIM 

2
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