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Notice of New USDA Import Requirements for Spruce Logs & Firewood
The USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is intending to issue new import requirements for spruce logs (Picea spp.) and softwood firewood originating in Canada, to prevent the spread of Brown Spruce Longhorn Beetle into the United States. To read the complete notice click (here).
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Cal. Embargoes Cut Stock Lumber / Australia Bark Free Requirement
A load of cut-stock lumber was held up recently at a California border station due to the presence of beetles and an unidentified flying insect. For the full notice put out by the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association (NWPCA) click (here).
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New Canadian HT Certificate for Non-EU Countries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a revised version of the HT Certicate for non-EU countries. PLIB member mills in Canada that are registered under the Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program (CHTWPCP) or the Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program (CWPCP) must now obtain the new certicate from PLIB directly. Only a "sample" version of the HT Certicate will be available on the CFIA website; this is over the concern that mills outside the CLSAB system could download and issue the certificate. The revised certificate now contains a check box to indicate if it is a consolidated shipment as well as a section to indicate the consolidated shipment numbers. For more information on the PLIB HT Program or to view Canadian HT Certificates click (here).
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PLIB Accredited Under New Canadian Treated Wood Program
In October of 2008 the Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board (CLSAB) accredited PLIB under the new Canadian Treated Wood Program.
Working together CLSAB, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC), and industry associations such as Wood Preservation Canada and the Canadian Wood Council have developed a national certification program for treated wood to standardize quality control practices within the industry. For more information click (here).
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New NLGA Dues for Technical Support Go Into Effect January 1, 2009
The National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) will be assessing a new fee for Canadian lumber grading agencies, effective January 1, 2009. Revenue from the new fee will be used to pay for technical support and market access of the NLGA rule and will include things like design value development, building code efforts and some essential research efforts. The NLGA technical fee will be assessed at 6.2 cents per thousand board feet of shipments based on 2007 shipment volumes. PLIB members were sent more information on the new fee as well as other dues changes in early January. For more information, contact the PLIB office.
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PLIB Holds Semi-annual Board of Directors Meeting
The PLIB Board of Directors met on December 3rd, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in SeaTac, Washington for their regularly scheduled semi-annual meeting. Items that were considered by the Board new dues rate for Wood Packaging Manufacturers, CE Marking, California Wildland Interface regulations, changes in the IRS reporting requirements for not-for-profit organizations, approval of new members and the 2009 budget.
The PLIB Board of Directors consists of Bob Waltz Jr. (President), Dave Poggemoeller (Vice-President), Paul Beltgens, Eric Fritch, Jim Hallstrom, Jim Manke, Greg Mobley, Tom Rogers, Ted Smith, and John Thorlakson. Approved minutes from the meeting will be available to members through this web site by logging in and visiting the Members Only tab.
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PLIB Ready to Support Members with the CE Mark
The European Union (EU) has delayed the implementation date of the CE Marking requirement from September 1, 2009 to September 2012. The EU will require that all structural lumber be marked with a special CE Mark that identifies that the lumber complies with EN 518 requirements. The mark includes information such as the identification number of the Notified Body, producer information, document code information and the special CE mark. Any mill shipping structural lumber into the European Union will need to stamp their product with the CE Mark before the deadline.
The CE Mark will only be available to those agencies that have been recognized and accredited by one of the approved European Notified Bodies. PLIB, through the Canadian Lumber Standards Accreditation Board, will be approved for CE Marking and will be prepared to issue CE Marks to PLIB member mills (Canadian and U.S.) well before the deadline. Several Canadian Lumber producers have begun CE marking and will continue to do so, as many customers are requesting it. PLIB currently has two mills that have been issued CE marks. Any mill that is interested in the CE Marking program or that needs the CE Mark for their export products should call Jeff Fantozzi at the PLIB Head Office (253) 835-3344 for more information.
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New EU "debarking" Requirement
PLIB has received notice from the American Lumber Standards Committee in regards to a new European Union (EU) debarking requirement. Starting July 1, 2009 lumber used in wood packaging, including dunnage, that is shipped to the countries of the EU will be subject to the following bark limitations. Bark 3 cm or less in width can be unlimited in length, if over 3 cm wide bark patch is limited to 50 square centimeters or approximately credit card size.
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