Export Certification Standard - Technical Requirements: Registered Certification Mark (ISPM15)

This document is available in PDF format: Registered Certification Mark (ISPM 15) Link to PDF document (102 KB)

Information on viewing PDF files

REVIEW This Biosecurity New Zealand standard is subject to periodic review.
ENDORSEMENT This Biosecurity New Zealand standard is hereby endorsed.
Director PreClearance
Biosecurity New Zealand		  
Date 1 June 2006

Biosecurity New Zealand
MAF
P O Box 2526
Wellington
New Zealand

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

This standard is one of a set of standards that comprise the Biosecurity New Zealand export phytosanitary certification system.

This export certification system operates through the delegation of authority by Biosecurity New Zealand to authorised Independent Verification Agencies (IVAs) and approved Organisations to carry out certification services and activities on behalf of Biosecurity New Zealand.

The standard “System Overview and Requirements” provides an overview of the policies and general requirements for Biosecurity New Zealand’s Plant (including Forestry) Export Certification system.

Biosecurity New Zealand has developed standards and technical requirements for the delegation of authority for the provision of phytosanitary export certification services and activities.

The series of export certification standards can be found on the Biosecurity New Zealand websites:

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/commercial-exports/forestry-exports/export-certification-standards (offsite link to www.biosecurity.govt.nz)

www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/exports/plants/stds

1.2 Purpose

This standard specifies the minimum technical requirements to facilitate the application of a MAF registered certification mark as per ISPM 15 to meet importing country requirements.

1.3 References

Refer to Appendix 1, Biosecurity New Zealand Export Certification Standard: System Overview and Requirements, and specifically the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging in International Trade (ISPM 15).

1.4 Definitions

Refer to Appendix 2, Biosecurity New Zealand Export Certification Standard: System Overview and Requirements and those contained in the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging in International Trade (ISPM 15).

2 APPROVAL TO APPLY A MAF REGISTERED ISPM 15 MARK

The Biosecurity New Zealand Registered Certification Mark associated with treated wooden packaging as per ISPM 15 is hereafter referred to as a “registered certification mark”.

Organisations applying Registered Certification Marks shall be located in New Zealand.

2.1 Scope of activity and applicable standards

The following Table (1) identifies the linkage between Technical Requirements: Registered Certification Mark ISPM 15 Standard and other Biosecurity New Zealand Standards.

Table 1 Linkage to other Biosecurity New Zealand Standards.

Scope of phytosanitary activities Applicable Biosecurity New Zealand Standards
Treatment Supplier standard Organisation requirements Technical Requirements Registered Certification Mark ISPM15 International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging in International Trade (ISPM 15).
1. Organisation carrying out ISPM15 treatments and marking Utilise some specifications Core system standard All specifications All specifications
2. Organisation carrying out ISPM15 Marking only None Core system standard All specifications All specifications
3. Treatment Supplier carrying out all treatment options including ISPM treatments and ISPM 15 marking Core system standard None All specifications All specifications

2.2 Process for approval to apply the certification mark

Refer to Table 2 of the Biosecurity New Zealand Standard Organisation Requirements, or the approval process outlined in Biosecurity New Zealand Requirements for the Supplier of Official Treatments as appropriate.

If approval is granted the organisation and/or treatment supplier shall be assigned a registration number and the companies details will be posted on the Biosecurity New Zealand register of certified mark applicators.

2.3 Register of Certified Mark Applicators

This Biosecurity New Zealand register is available on the following Biosecurity New Zealand web site:

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/commercial-exports/forestry-exports/export-requirements (offsite link to www.biosecurity.govt.nz)

2.4 Biosecurity New Zealand cost recovery fees

The schedule of fees is available from the Biosecurity New Zealand website:

http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/commercial-exports/plant-exports/fees (offsite link to www.biosecurity.govt.nz)

2.5 Suspension or termination of approval to apply the MAF Registered Certification Mark

Cross reference to Organisation Requirements Section 2.4-2.6 or Requirements for The Supplier of Official Treatments section 9 as appropriate.

3 APPLICATION AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THE REGISTERED CERTIFICATION MARK

3.1 Application of the registered certification mark

The registered certification mark shall only be applied by a Biosecurity New Zealand registered certification mark applicator to wood packaging material that is:

  • i. Treated in compliance with International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packing Material in International Trade (ISPM 15);
  • ii. Sourced from a
    • a) Biosecurity New Zealand approved Treatment Supplier, or
    • b) Biosecurity New Zealand approved Organisation who has approval to undertake ISPM 15 official treatments;
  • iii. Clearly traceable to the official treatment process; and
  • iv. In accordance with specific importing countries treatment requirement.

3.1.1 Registered certification mark requirements

The registered certification mark applied to wood packaging material must be:

  • i. Legible;
  • ii. Permanent and not transferable;
  • iii. Placed in a clearly visible location on the article being certified;
  • iv. Any colour other than red or orange; and
  • v. Stamped or branded to the wood packaging material.

3.2 Specifications of the certification mark

The registered certification mark shall be applied according to the model shown in Figure 3.1 below and in accordance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging in International Trade (ISPM 15). This includes the perimeter lines and the interior dividing line.

There is no specific size set for the registered certification mark, but it shall be sufficient in size to be legible and to facilitate verification during inspection. For example, it shall be large enough to enable the codes contained within the mark to be read by an inspector. The size and proportions of these codes and the IPPC symbol in relation to each other shall be according to the model shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Certification mark for wood packaging material.

The registered certification mark shall include:

  • i. IPPC certification symbol;
  • ii. XX: represents the two letter ISO country code, NZ for New Zealand;
  • iii. 000: represents the unique Biosecurity New Zealand Registration Number issued by Biosecurity New Zealand.
  • iv. YY: is the treatment abbreviation;

HT is the code for heat treatment;

MB is the code for methyl bromide fumigation.

Other information may be included provided that it is not confusing, deceptive or misleading. Examples of permitted additional information include date of manufacture, batch number, company name or logo.

3.3 Use of de-barked timber

Some importing countries have the additional requirement that all wood packaging material shall be manufactured using debarked wood. Where this is an importing country requirement the wood packaging shall be marked in the following manner:

DB - HT: for heat-treated debarked wood packaging material

DB - MB: for fumigated debarked wood packaging material.

4 RE-USE OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL

All wood packaging articles that bear a certification mark from New Zealand or another country that meet the requirements of ISPM 15, and that are without alteration, may be re-exported from New Zealand without retreating and remarking.

Where alterations are made to the articles of wood packaging see section 5 (below).

5 REPAIR, RE-MANUFACTURE AND RECYCLE OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED WOOD PACKAGING

All wood packaging material used in the repair, recycle, or remanufacture of wood packaging must be treated and marked in accordance with the ISPM15 requirements.

Wood packaging material within a repaired, recycled, or remanufactured article shall only display the certification (ISPM15) mark of the Biosecurity New Zealand registered certification mark applicator repairing, recycling, or remanufacturing that article.

All previous certification (ISPM15) marks present on the repaired, recycled, or remanufactured wood packaging material must be removed or obliterated if not registered to the repairer, recycler, or remanufacture of that article.

6 STAFF COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

Staff carrying out the registered certification mark application shall be competent in the following area:

  • i. Demonstrable ability to follow written procedures.

7 RECORDS MANAGEMENT

In addition to the requirements set out in the Biosecurity New Zealand Standard: Organisation Requirements, and/or Biosecurity New Zealand Standard: Requirements for The Supplier of Official Treatments the following records shall be kept:

  • i. Certification number assigned to the organisation by Biosecurity New Zealand; and
  • ii. Treatment certificates issued by approved treatment suppliers where applicable.

Page last updated: 19 June 2008