CBP to Increase Wood Packaging Material Treatment Enforcement

US Customs issued CSMS message 17-000609 stating that enforcement and frequency of penalty action for violations to the wood packaging materials standards will soon increase.  This requirement has been in effect since 2005 and states that wood packaging materials must be treated at approved facilities in their place of origin and display a visible, permanent mark certifying that treatment has been approved under the International Standards of Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15) regulation.  Previously, responsible parties were only penalized after five (5) violations. Now, US Customs will penalize for each singular violation with no yearly reset for repeat offenders.