Scott Pallets’ Bathgate site is the first in the UK to secure approval to carry out repairs to EPAL licenced Euro pallets using pre heat-treated components.
Kevin McNeilly, Managing Director – Reconditioned Business Unit, Scott Pallets, said: “This is good news for our customers and the wider supply chain. Using pre heat-treated timber means we can turn around ISPM15 compliant Euro pallets much quicker, and with the 1st January 2021 Brexit transition deadline looming, this is a massive advantage for our customers who are transporting goods to Europe and require a seamless transition.”
From the 1st January 2021, it will be a legal requirement for all wood packaging material moving in both directions between UK and the EU to be compliant with the treatment measures and marked as specified in the International Standard for Phytosanitary measures No. 15 (ISPM15).
There are serious consequences if EU suppliers do not use ISPM15 pallets for shipping goods, and these include fixed and variable monetary penalties ranging from £250 to £250,000. Full details can be found here: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1089/introduction/made
Kevin McNeilly added: “We would strongly advise pallet users to plan to use ISPM15 compliant pallets come the 1st January 2021, and are working tirelessly with our customers to ensure forward requirements are accurately predicted so any impact on the transportation of good is minimised.”
If you need technical advice and support on ISPM15 pallet requirements ahead of the January deadline, please visit www.scottgroupltd.com/contact/locations/ to find your local Scott Pallets adviser.
What is ISPM15?
International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM15) is an international phytosanitary measure developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to directly addresses the need to treat wood materials of a thickness greater than 6mm, used to ship products between countries. Its main purpose is to prevent the international transport and spread of disease and insects that could negatively affect plants or ecosystems. ISPM15 affects all wood packaging material, including pallets, crates, dunnages etc, requiring that they be debarked then heat-treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and stamped or branded, with a mark of compliance. This mark of compliance is colloquially known as the ‘wheat stamp’.
