New phytosanitary regulations for the shipment of wooden pallets to the Canary Islands: everything you need to know

Wooden palletsincluded in shipments to the Canary Islandsmust pass a strict phytosanitary control to obtain authorisation to enter the archipelago. The new regulation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, based on the requirements of the international regulation ISPM-15, comes into force on 16 April 2019 and aims to prevent the penetration into the territory of microorganisms harmful to the island ecosystem.

do you want to know if you are affected by this change and how to deal with it at a logistic level? Read on, at Rajapack we solve all your doubts!

Regulatory framework: the order of the Ministry of Agriculture and ISPM-15

The new phytosanitary requirements that will be required for wooden pallets in the Canary Islands are established by Order APA/1076/2018, of 11 October, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which incorporates the guidelines on wood packaging of theInternational Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM-15).

The objective is to limit the spread of certain pests that may be harmful to the biodiversity of this outermost region of the EU. In addition to pallets, it is to be applied to all types of wooden packaging with a thickness greater than six millimetres, including crates, boxes, crates, drums and similar containers, load boards, pallet collars and dunnage.

Phytosanitary treatments for wood pallets approved by ISPM-15

In order for wooden pallets to be cleared for entry by island trade authorities, they must have undergone one of the four phytosanitary treatments endorsed by ISPM-15 and display the approved mark certifying this.

These treatment options are:

• Heat treatment by means of a conventional steam chamber or oven drying.This consists of keeping the pallets at a minimum temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for a period of at least 30 minutes. Afterwards, the piece must be marked with the HT code.
• Heat treatment by dielectric heating. In this case, heating is carried out with microwaves or radio waves, and the pallet is subjected to a minimum temperature of 60 degrees Celsius for one minute. The marking code for this method is DH.
• Methyl bromide treatment: ISPM-15 accepts the use of methyl bromide in the fumigation of wooden pallets, but advises that the use of this compound should be limited and that, if possible, alternative measures should be used. The application of this product should be carried out in accordance with the guidelines specified by national plant protection organisations so that the appropriate concentration and exposure levels are achieved. The pallets should then be marked with the indication MB.
• Disulfuryl fluoride treatment: As with methyl bromide, fumigation must be carried out in accordance with a programme approved by the competent national plant protection organisation. The code for certification of this treatment is SF.

how should the marking of treated pallets be carried out?

ISPM-15 establishes an internationally recognised official marking system to identify which wood packaging material is suitable for export and, in this context, approved for shipment to the Canary Islands

This marking must consist of:

• The IPPC symbol (in Spanish, NIMF).
• The ISO letters corresponding to the country of origin.
• The number assigned to the manufacturer by the Government.
• The code that explains what type of treatment the pallet has received (HT, DH, MB or SF).

Fibre pallets: exportable without the need for additional treatment

Compared to wooden pallets, which now have to pass this phytosanitary control when being transported to the Canary Islands, there is a simple, resistant, durable alternative that does not require any additional phytosanitary treatment: fibre pallets.

At Rajapack we have three formats of wood fibre pallets, all of them:

• They are much lighter than a traditional pallet without losing any of their robustness.
• They comply with all the requirements of ISPM-15.
• They are the most recommended option for export.
• They are in stock and ready to be delivered within 24/48 hours.

Choose between the mini-pallet, which is no less reliable for being small, as it supports up to 500 kilos in dynamic load; the Europallet and American size, which can hold up to 900 kilos; or the fibre pallet for containers, with standardised measurements for transport by train or ship. Get ready to send your shipments to the Canary Islands in the most practical and safe way, and with all the legal guarantees!