The Swedish wood packaging programme

Purpose


This information note is to notify other countries, officials and companies, of the official Swedish Wood Packaging Programme, which fulfils the requirements of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade.

Legal base and official body


The Swedish Wood Packaging Programme is regulated by Swedish Regulation (SJVFS 2004:53) on heat treatment, kiln drying and marking of sawn wood and wood packaging material. The regulation also covers sawn wood for export. The Board of Agriculture with the Plant Protection Service is the official body responsible for this programme.

You can find the relevant regulation in the right-hand column.

Treatments

Heat treatment by kiln drying


Most Swedish wood packaging is made from wood, which has been heat treated in connection with kiln drying at a sawmill.

Approved sawmills are authorized to mark their produce of wood with the KD 56ºC/30 min mark. This approval procedure guarantees that the wood has been kiln dried in accordance with a specific time-temperature schedule that achieves a minimum wood core temperature of 56 ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes and therefore also fulfils the requirements for marking with HT (heat treatment) according to the ISPM 15.

Heat treatment without kiln drying


Some companies are approved for heat treatment only.

Other treatments


Fumigation with methyl bromide is not allowed in Sweden.

Debarking


The Swedish wood packaging programme requires debarked wood.

Marking


The regulations cover companies with different types of activities. The marking differs between companies producing wood packaging and sawmills producing sawn wood products of which just a part of the production is sold for production of wood packaging.

The different templates are presented in the Code of Regulations SJVFS 2004:53 in the right-hand column.

Only officially registered and approved companies are allowed to use the official marking.

N.B. According to the Swedish legislation marking of heat treated sawn wood is not a requirement. Instead it says that the sawmills "may" use the marking according to Article 7 in Swedish Regulation SJVFS 2004:53. The sawmills are urged to use the marking, especially when wood packaging producers order wood, because the latter have to prove that the purchased wood is treated. In addition there should be a reference to the heat treatment on the invoice or another trade document. To be sure to get the necessary information along with the delivered wood, wood packaging producers are responsible for ordering treated and marked wood accompanied by an invoice with a suitable text.

Used wood packaging


The Swedish regulations cover heat treatment and marking of older wood packaging as well as rules for reparation of used wood packaging.

Company categories covered


1. Companies providing heat treatment, in most cases sawmills running heat treatment during the kiln drying process.
2. Wood packaging producers including repairers purchasing heat treated wood. Some wood packaging producers have their own heat treatment facilities.
3. Companies combining activities mentioned in 1 and 2.
4. Companies providing heat treatments for already manufactured and/or used wood packaging.
5. Others. Depending on the activities of certain companies, e.g. retailers, packing services, and others in the wood packaging sector could be approved.

Most of the approved Swedish companies belong to category 1 and 2.

Technical verification and assessments

Treatment facilities


At the first assessment the initial technical investigation of kilns or other heat treatment facilities is made by SP Trätek, Swedish Institute for Wood Technology Research, in cooperation with the Swedish Plant Protection Service. The report produced from this initial assessment lays down critical steps in the processes and prescribes the conditions for current heat treatment and kiln drying processes to be approved.

In addition, the initial assessment includes investigation of internal processes and logistics of the company in order to secure separation of treated and non-treated wood. The company have to guarantee that marking will solely be made on heat treated wood or heat treated wood packaging.

Regular assessments in treatment facilities


The regular assessments include technical verification, e.g. drying schedules, check of compulsory calibrations, documentary checks and physical inspection on the spot.
Temperature checks with computer loggers are done at random at most heat treatment providers. Most sawmills are drying at much higher temperatures and with longer duration than the required at least 56 ºC for at least 30 minutes. The computer logger checks are done at a more regular basis in places where the kilns or other heat treatment equipment are working at lower temperatures and gives a smaller safety margin according to the temperature requirements.

These computer loggers have two probes; one is used for the wood core temperature and one for the air temperature. The probes are installed at the time of inspection and after the run is finished the loggers are sent in by post. The resulting temperature curves are compared with the current documentation of temperature presented by the company.
Heat treatment facilities are checked on a regular basis at least once a year. Inspectors of the Swedish Board of Agriculture, Divisions of inspections, carry out these controls.

Wood packaging producers


At the initial assessment the production and internal control systems are investigated. The company shall be able to prove that they have an internal system established, securing that:
Wood packaging intended for marking consists entirely of debarked and heat treated wood material from an officially approved heat treatment provider. On delivery the sawn wood shall be marked on the plastic wrapping or on the package specification. The marking shall include the official registration number of the wood provider.

Treated and untreated wood, if present, is kept safely separated in all possible situations.
The critical points of the logistics and production process are investigated, e.g. ordering and purchase of treated wood, delivery checks, storage of wood material and transports with focus on separation of treated and non-treated wood.

Documentation of production, repair and marking in accordance with the rules in the Swedish regulations shall be carried out continuously.

Incoming, purchased wood should be checked at delivery and documented. The invoice or another trade document should give evidence of compliance with the requirements for heat treated wood.

Regular assessments of wood packaging producers


Approved wood packaging producers are assessed regularly at minimum once a year. These inspections include, documentary checks and physical inspection on the spot, e.g. delivery control, storage yard, production plant and check of invoices. Special focus is put on critical points found at the initial assessment or earlier inspections and changes in the production system (if any).

Withdrawal of approval


The Swedish Regulation (SJVFS 2004:53) covers withdrawal of approval.

If marking has been carried out contrary to these regulations, the approval may be immediately withdrawn.

If the deviations are minor, the Board of Agriculture may decide that measures shall be taken within a certain period of time. If this is not done within the specified time, the Board of Agriculture may withdraw the approval.

If a company after withdrawal wants to be reassessed to enter the system again, the process will start from the beginning with a new initial assessment and if it is a heat treatment provider with a new technical investigation.

Lists of approved companies


Lists of approved Swedish companies are published on the website of the Swedish Board of Agriculture. These lists are updated continuously. However a few approved companies have chosen not to put their names on our web. Information is also available at the Swedish Plant Protection Service.

You can find the lists in the left-hand column.

Last updated: 2009-09-14