Shipborne dunnage is a type of wood packaging material (WPM) used in marine vessels to stabilize or brace cargo during ocean transport. As other types of WPM, dunnage is generally made from low quality wood, likely to be infested with forest pests. Entry of non-compliant dunnage and the presence of live pests in wood packaging material and shipborne dunnage increases risk to Canada’s forest and plant resource base.
On January 6, 2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) published directive D-98-08 Entry requirements for wood packaging material into Canada which includes details on the new shipborne dunnage program. At the time of publication the implementation deadline of the directive was July 6, 2023.
The CFIA’s forestry section has extended the implementation deadline by 4 months to allow more time for the industry to address implementation issues. As a result, full implementation of the shipborne dunnage program will be required by November 6, 2023. Email notification has been sent today to key partners and stakeholders.
D-98-08 also reflects amendments to the approved heat treatments and marking requirements made under the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15. The approved treatments and marking requirements are detailed in Appendix 1 of the directive.
For more information regarding the application of this directive, please consult a local CFIA office.