The delay of the European Union rule that would ban wood packing material with tree bark still attached will give nations more time to study its scientific validity. The EU issued its debarking rule last month, but has delayed implementation until Jan. 1, 2009. The EU created the rule as an extension of the International Standard Phytosanitary Measure 15, which calls for all wood packing material to be heat-treated or fumigated to kill wood-destructive pests. Several governments objected to the rule, including the U.S. and Canada, claiming the unilateral EU decision could affect some $80 billion in U.S. exports to Europe. Countries can amend ISPM-15 if they can scientifically show data supporting their claims. The EU’s delay does not affect ISPM-15 itself, which is already in effect for wood packing materials in international trade.
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