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Seajet |
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February 2006 |
Dear Customer! It has been a while since our last Seajet Shipping News issue and at this point I would like to report on a couple of subjects: Re: Wood Packaging Materials (WPM) Further to earlier Seajet Shipping News reports (02/11/05 and 09/06/05) on this issue (see www.seajet.com under "News" and "Archive", Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is now reminding all importers of products transported on wooden pallets or in wooden creates that the Phase II implementation of phytosanitary regulations begins February 1 and that non-compliant shipments risk the immediate re-exportation at the shipper's (Importer's) expense. The rules state wood packaging materials (WPM) must be marked with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo, the two-letter International Organization for Standardization (ISO) code for the country that treated the WPM, the treatment facility number assigned by the national plant protection organization, and either the abbreviation HT (heat treatment) or MB (methyl bromide). The rule states that regulated WPM must be marked in a visible location on each article, preferably on at least two opposite sides of the article, with a legible and permanent mark that indicates that the article meets the new requirements. Paper treatment certificates will no longer be required or accepted. According to CBP, "pallets"... include)s) single wooden pallets and all pallets that are part of a unitized packaging container, such as wooden pallets that comprise the base of a carton or crate: for example, in shipments of motorcycles, machinery parts, pipe fittings. Customs adds, "Wooden crates or lift vans constructed solely of manufactured wood (for example plywood) are not regulated by the WPM rule. However, if other lumber is used in these crates, those pieces are covered by the WPM rule." Shipments containing non-compliant wood pallets or crates will be held and will not be released. The importer, or the importer's representative will be notified by customs and offered the option of requesting "separation of the imported merchandise from the violative WPM." However, if the port director determines that separation of the non-compliant crates from the cargo is not feasible, or if separation is not requested, then the entire shipment, including compliant wood packaging materials, will be exported from the U.S. at the importers' or party of interest's expense. Source: JoC To read more about this issue you may go to www.seajet.com - "Links" - USDA - Search: WPM Re: Trans-Pacific The Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) announced that effective May 1, 2006 they will shift from quarterly to monthly adjusted fuel surcharges in an effort to moderate cost impacts and make the surcharges more responsive to market conditions. On a positive note, most analysts believe that the freight eastbound market (Far East to USA) will be soft in 2006 and 2007 as new capacity is coming online in the form of new larger ships which is expected to outpace demand. This believe is contradictory to the statements made by the carriers who have announced the implementation of rate increases, however, if the available cargo space exceeds the demand it will be difficult to make such increases stick.
Best regards,
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Seajet Express Inc., 46 Arlington Street, Chelsea, MA 02150 - Telephone 617.884.0991 - www.seajet.com |
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