Market Access Manual for Artisans Rev2 - Caribbean Export ...

Marking and labeling requirements applying to products sold in the UK are numerous and vary
from item to item, and both UK and EU laws and regulations influence requirements. The
correct labeling of the product is important as the information is to be used upon importation to
UK. A customs declaration always has to be filled out containing information such as the TARIC
code (Integrated Tariff of the European Communities) 5 , country of origin, name of the consignor,
the value of the products etc.
7.2 RESTRICTIONS ON WOOD PACKING MATERIAL
Wood is widely used as a packaging material in international trade. Due to the risks of
introducing and spreading tree pests, strict controls on wood packaging, both for imports and
exports, are enforced. If you don't conform to these requirements, your entire consignment
could be rejected or even destroyed.
Wood packaging means any kind of wood used anywhere in packing, such as packing cases,
boxes, crates, drums and similar packing, pallets, box pallets and other load boards, pallet collars
and dunnage.
Around the globe, countries are adopting and implementing the provisions of the United
Nations resolution IPPS ISPN 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in
International Trade. In 2001, the European Union (which includes the UK) implemented these
standards and began enforcing the standards in 2003. In 2003, the US Department of Agriculture
approved the standard and sent it to USC&BP for approval and implementation. They did a soft
roll out over a two year period and on March 9, 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
began issuing fines or requiring re‐export of noncompliant cargo to the origin country. In
summary, all solid wood packing materials must be heat treated and properly marked with
the burned brand showing the heat treatment symbol with the lumber production facility
code.
Below are some examples of stamps used on pallets to indicate ISPM 15 compliance.
5 TARIC (Integrated Tariff of the European Communities) is designed to show the various rules applying to specific
products when imported into the EU of which the UK belongs. This includes the provisions of the harmonised system
and the combined nomenclature (that is, a combination of Common Customs Tariff and external trade statistics of the
European Union) but also additional provisions specified in Community legislation such as tariff suspensions, tariff
quotas and tariff preferences, which exist for the majority of the Community’s trading partners. In trade with third
countries, the 10‐digit Taric code must be used in customs and statistical declarations. TARIC builds upon the
international harmonised system
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