Scientists Discuss ISPM-15 Changes, New Rules Loom on Horizon

                      Scientific experts and government representatives recently gathered in Rome at the sixth meeting of the International Forestry Quarantine Research Group (IFQRG), a taskforce of forestry scientists and technical experts on phytosanitary issues. They discussed a number of issues, including developing tests for evaluating treatment methods, updates on various new technologies in the development pipeline, and pending changes to the existing ISPM-15 standard for solid wood packaging.

                      IFQRG is developing a decision tree (see Appendix 1) to evaluate new treatment methods for solid wood packaging. The participants agreed to begin by determining what pests to test first. The initial criteria should determine if there is variation in each pest group (i.e. bark beetles) and use this evaluation to determine how many of each species in each pest group should be tested. Several members advocated that surrogates can be used as long as some evidence of equivalency to the pests of concern is provided. New treatment providers will have to test the efficacy of any new process against the most important and the most resistant species.

                      International leaders are discussing doing for wood what has been done for wood packaging material. IFQRG is studying how best to develop a consensus standard that could help harmonize existing laws on the transport of raw logs or lumber. Numerous countries stipulate specific import requirements for wood, including: heat treatment, kiln drying, chemical treatment, and/or bark removal although there is no consensus standard. IFQRG is examining how best to provide a framework that harmonizes various laws while providing countries room to enforce the voluntary standard as they see fit.

                      It is really too early to tell just how strict the proposed wood standard may be. IFQRG is considering issues, such as the risk associated to specific pests, suitable phytosanitary measures, the impact of bark, the dangers of post-harvest infestation, and ways to avoid confusing any new requirements with the existing ISPM-15 standard.

                      Dr Eric Allen with the Pacific Forestry Centre in Canada is the chairman of IFQRG as well as a leading researcher of heat treatment methods. Dr. Allen said, “We know that not all organisms are killed with the same treatment. For example, some wood organisms live in composite piles or near hot springs and can survive extreme temperatures.”

                      Researchers in the United States have been looking at the effectiveness of the current 56/30 heat treatment standard to kill problem pests, such as the emerald ash borer (EAB). Some research indicates that 56/30 may not be effective enough to kill the EAB. But this is far from clear because many times the outer area where many pests live are treated at much higher temperatures for far longer periods of time than 56/30. This technical reality makes it harder to estimate since kilns can vary from location to location.

                      Treating wood can be a problem too because it can be susceptible to so many different invasive species.

                      Dr. Allen said, “Unlike fruit where you may be dealing with one fruit fly or a very limited number of pests, wood has potentially hundreds of thousands of pests that could pose a danger. You can’t do research to ensure the efficacy of a particular treatment to kill all pests.”

                      Researchers continue to look at new treatment technologies that can lower cost, reduce the impact on the environment and work in less developed countries. They considered the differences between heat treatment, methyl bromide, sulphuryl fluoride and microwave treatment. Although comparison research was not conclusive, IFQRG determined that microwave treatment at a frequency of 2.45 GHz to a minimum of 62 °C for two minutes applied to wood of a maximum thickness of 200mm should satisfy the requirements of ISPM-15.

                      One interesting technology development that was discussed is the use of an innovative solar kiln design by a company in Australia (www.solarkiln.com). The patented cyclic-drying method unique to the Solarola timber kiln system creates an intermittent drying cycle that its maker claims reduces the cracking, splitting and warping that is common to conventional drying, while also reducing energy costs by upwards of 80%. The patented design uses three levels of plastic, not expensive solar collectors or panels to create a drying chamber. It is lightweight, portable, energy efficient and environmentally-friendly according to the manufacturer. Although the technology has yet to be approved for ISPM-15 use, it highlights the ingenuity that is being considered as new approaches are taken to old ideas.

IFQRG has looked at a number of contentious issues over the last few years. The most notable one was the debate over bark removal. In the end, the Europeans got some of what they wanted and the U.S. limited the requirement to allow some bark. The Committee for Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which oversees ISPM-15, is considering changes that would require compliant packaging to be free of major patches of bark. The proposed standard change would limit bark to no bigger than three centimeters wide and any length, or patches that are about the size of a credit card. CPM has received so many comments about the bark rule that it is extending the process for further comments.   CPM will take up the bark and other issues next April. More details should be available as CPM issues a report on the preliminary country comments. Also, under consideration are new definitions for the terms re-use, recycled and repaired wood packaging.