The country of China has announced emergency quarantine regulations effective January 1, 2000. This regulation requires that all shipments leaving for China as of 1/1/00 must self-certify if no solid wood packing material (SWPM) is present, or if the solid wood packing material is other than conifer wood.

Exporters should prominently place one of the following certifying statements on the invoice and/or bill of lading:

THIS SHIPMENT CONTAINS NO SOLID WOOD PACKING MATERIAL.

THE SOLID WOOD PACKING MATERIAL IN THIS SHIPMENT IS NOT CONIFEROUS WOOD.

If the shipment DOES contain coniferous solid wood packing material, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) must certify that the conifer wood packing material in the shipment has been heat-treated.(99% of all shipments are affected by this regulation. Take GREAT CARE to avoid delays and penalties. Call your Chandler Packaging representative for further assistance to ensure that your shipment is not delayed.)

SWPM is defined as "solid wood packing materials, other than loose wood packing materials, used or for use with cargo to prevent damage, including, but not limited to, dunnage, crating, pallets, packing blocks, drums, cases, spools and skids." Most of the wood used for shipping to China meets this definition and will be subject to the regulation.

Conifer wood is wood that comes from "predominantly evergreen, conebearing trees, such as, pine, spruce, hemlock or fir." These are the types of wood material that are primarily used in Southern California.

Heat treatment, as defined by the regulations, is wood that has been heated to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius (133 F) for 30 minutes. Kiln drying also meets this requirement. You are required to use Heat Treated Lumber for MOST Overseas Shipments. We have installed a State of the Art, Forty Foot Long oven for treatment of wood.

Chandler Packaging, Inc., as your preferred packaging supplier, is aware of these new regulations, and want to ensure that you are also aware of them. Other countries are expected to impose these requirements as well. If you require certified packaging for your export shipment, please inform us and all necessary materials will be used to comply with this new regulation including appropriate certification. Please be aware that if compliance is not maintained, your shipment could be delayed, returned or destroyed.

Should you have any questions about this regulation, please call us and ask for John Chandler at 858-292-9094.