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In order to produce
ISPM15 compliant packaging you must be a member of the
UKWPMMP and undergo
six monthly assessments to ensure the packaging you produce complies with
the ISPM15 standard.
To join the UKWPMMP you
must complete, sign and return the Application for Registration.
Once your application and payment has been received you will be sent a
letter of welcome, your FC Number will be given to you when you have booked
your first assessment, with one of the
Approved Assessment Agencies. Only when you have successfully passed an assessment are you entitled to
produce ISPM15 compliant packaging. Applying for a
Certificate
The UK Wood Packaging Material
Marking Programme is administered by
TIMCON, acting on behalf of the
Forestry Commission and
Forest Service.
On receipt of an acceptable application, you will be advised to arrange
for an independent assessment agency, recognised by the Forestry
Commission and Forest Service, to formally assess your ability to carry
out, in a proper manner, the approved measure(s) to which the application
relates. Alternatively, where pre-treated wood is used, your systems to
ensure proper marking of wood packaging material manufactured by you,
together with appropriate audit trails and records will be assessed.
When you apply for a certificate you must nominate a Designated person.
This person must have full technical knowledge and experience of the wood
packaging material production methods specified in your application. The
Designated person must be available during the assessment process and be
able to ensure access to material, production areas and equipment, and all
relevant records.
The assessment process
The assessment will review the systems, including processes and records,
pertaining to the manufacture, re-manufacture, repair, treatment and
marking of wood packaging material. It will include a review of:
- The sources and types of wood used, and reconciliation of
volumes in and out and stock balances (receipts and sales).
- The treatment methods used at the premises, for example, the
capacity of facilities and their ability to achieve the required
technical standards.
- The available facilities for segregation of ISPM15-treated
material from that which is not treated.
- The Designated person’s knowledge of production operations, the
Programme’s requirements and Plant Health regulations. In
particular, his or her understanding of the following terms and
processes:
- ISPM15 marking requirements;
- definition of wood packaging material;
- heat treatment;
- processed wood;
- debarked and bark-free wood;
- signs of live pests.
If the application is successful the Forestry Commission will issue a
certificate via TIMCON. The certificate is valid for six months. If the
application is refused, and one or more measures are identified which, if
taken, would enable a certificate to be issued, you may be invited to
apply for reassessment. Please note that:
- The Plant Health (Wood Packaging Material Marking) (Forestry)
Order 2006 imposes an obligation on manufacturers to ensure that
they can demonstrate the integrity of their WPM supply chain
(process, documents, products) from the source of ISPM15 compliant
wood to production and marking of the finished product.
- The Order recognises the approved measures set out in ISPM15,
which are either heat treatment or methyl bromide fumigation.
However, as the storage and use of methyl bromide was banned in the
EU in March 2010, this treatment option is no longer permitted
within the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme.
- The Order also introduces a number of offences and associated
penalties for unauthorised or improper use of an ISPM15 mark.
Where you are subject to ISO9001
Quality Management Standards audit, and your auditor is approved by us to
perform WPM Programme assessments, it should be possible to combine the
two.
Joining fees
You must pay a registration fee and
an assessment fee to join the UK Wood Packaging Material Marking
Programme. The registration fee of £400 must accompany your
application and should be paid to
TIMCON. An initial assessment will be carried out to ensure that you
are able and willing to meet all of the requirements of the Programme.
This assessment and ongoing six-monthly re-assessments (see Renewing a
certificate at the bottom of this page), will be carried out by one of the
independent agencies recognised for the purpose,
click here. You will be responsible for arranging a time for your
assessment with the agency of your choice and for payment of associated
fees, negotiated with them by you.
Renewing a
Certificate
The holder of a certificate
may apply for renewal no earlier than one month before its expiry. A
reassessment will be carried out to confirm that all ISPM15 compliant WPM
produced meets the requirements of the Programme. The administration fee
for renewal of a certificate is £120 which is payable to
TIMCON. As soon as
TIMCON receive this fee and are
notified of a successful re-assessment (which will be charged separately
by the assessment agency) a new certificate will be issued to the person
designated within your organisation.
Official monitoring
In order to ensure that assessments are being carried out properly and
consistently, plant health inspectors from the Forestry Commission or
Forest Service will audit assessment agencies. They will co-ordinate
audits to coincide with the independent agency’s assessment visit. You
will not be charged for this official monitoring.
Powers of inspectors
To check whether marked WPM is being manufactured in compliance with the
Programme, plant health inspectors have authority to enter, without a
warrant, any premises they believe to be used for this purpose (other than
premises used wholly as a private dwelling). An inspector may observe the
manufacturing process, examine or test any equipment, examine or take
samples of wood packaging material, inspect and make copies of documents
relating to the manufacture of wood packaging material and take
photographs as necessary.
An inspector may remove, or ask for the removal of, any ISPM15 marks,
which he/she believes have been applied without a certificate or which do
not otherwise meet the requirements of the Programme (e.g. where they are
illegible).
Where an inspector has grounds for suspecting that a person has applied,
or intends to apply a mark to wood packaging material without a
certificate, they may confiscate any equipment they believe to be capable
of applying an ISPM15 mark. Any person from whom such equipment has been
seized will have one month in which to lodge an appeal to the Forestry
Commissioners before the equipment is destroyed. Where an appeal is
lodged, the Forestry Commissioners shall either return the equipment if
they are satisfied that there are good grounds for doing so, or shall
apply to the Court for an order for its
destruction.
Withdrawal of
certificates
Certificates may be withdrawn if it is believed that a manufacturer has
not complied with the provisions in the Plant Health (Wood Packaging
Material Marking) (Forestry) Order 2006 (as amended). Any person from whom
a certificate has been withdrawn will be notified of the reasons in
writing and may apply for re-assessment within 3 months of the date on
which the invitation to reapply was received by them. |
