CBP to Implement Phase II Enforcement of Wood Packaging Material Regulations
On February 1, 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will begin Phase II of its enforcement of the wood packaging material (WPM) regulations. Effective February 1, 2006, CBP will prohibit all imports of violative pallets and crates and will order the reexport of all shipments containing violative pallets or crates if the Port Director determines that it is not feasible to separate merchandise from the violative WPM. In addition, in-transit shipments found to contain violative WPM will not be permitted to transit the U.S. All expenses incurred for the services of CBP Officers and Agriculture Specialists involved in the separation of cargo will be billed to the importer or other party of interest. WPM and associated merchandise will be exported at the expense of the importer or other party of interest.
Phase III, or full enforcement of the WPM ban, will begin on July 5, 2006. See CBP's WPM website at www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/wpm/ for the WPM regulations and other WPM-related information.
Labels: Customs