We've been hearing from customers on the issue of the Zika virus and acquiring pallets that are Zika free. It is clear this is not a phytosanitary issue and shipments (and the associated pallets) and containers need to be treated at the port facility.
The issue was raised because the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ) has stated shipments from the United States shall be subject to anti-mosquito treatment. The ZIKA virus is a human health issue and is related to mosquitos, not wood-boring insects. Therefore, the recognized heat treatment or fumigation of export wood pallets for ISPM 15 compliance is not applicable for ZIKA compliance of the shipment. The entire consignment and container must be anti-mosquito treated and certified pre-shipment. There is no action a wood pallet company can do to assure ZIKA compliance for their customer’s shipment. It is the shipper’s responsibility to ensure the entire shipment is ZIKA compliant. Inbound shipments without proof of anti-mosquito treatment will be fumigated at the port of discharge in China by the authorities without prior notice. It is the Consignee’s responsibility to inform Shipper (at origin) to provide a certificate proof of treatment before loading the shipment. NWPCA is actively working with the US Department of Agriculture office of Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA-PPQ) and monitoring the ZIKA issue with partners like the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and will provide further updates as we receive them.
For the most recent USDA Foreign Agricultural Service update on China’s requirement on shipments from Zika infected countries please visit palletcentral.com and the USDA-FAS FAQ on Zika.
Source: National Wooden Pallet & Container Association
