EDITORIAL

  
   
New Requirement For Pallets From Mexico

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By Alex Romero
A.F. ROMERO CO

Effective September 27, 2004, all shipments coming from Mexico that contain wood pallets must be accompanied by a statement on the Customs invoice or on separate sheet accompanying the shipment that states the following:

"THE PALLETS USED IN THIS SHIPMENT ARE TOTALLY FREE FROM BARK, AND APPARENTLY FREE FROM LIVE PLANT PESTS".

Every shipment must have this statement on and after September 27, 2004

This is a requirement of the U.S.Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Pallets used in commercial and non-commercial imports that originated in Mexican states bordering the USA, were relatively free to be imported under a General Permit, without any restrictions. Until now.

On August 26, 2004, APHIS of U.S.Department of Agriculture published a notice in the Federal Register which revoked the special status of the Mexican border states, and now requires the Mexican exporter to make a declaration that the pallets are free of bark, and free from live plant pests. This declaration will be required for shipments entering the USA as of September 27th, 2004.

This covers all shipments, including maquiladora shipments of their products to the USA.

Obviously, in order to make this statement, the maquiladora and other Mexican exporters will have to make the effort to inspect the pallets that are shipped to the USA, to make sure they are free of bark and free of live plant pests.

The same Federal Register notice, requires Mexican exporters to the USA of just pallets, without cargo, to make the following statement on their customs invoices or separate sheet accompanying the shipment:

"THESE PALLETS WERE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE FOR IMPORTATION BECAUSE THEY WERE TOTALLY FREE FROM BARK AND APPARENTLY FREE FROM LIVE PLANT PESTS, AND HAVE NOT HAD WOOD ADDED TO THEM SINCE THAT USE".

Once again, this applies to any maquiladora that ships a trailer load of pallets to the USA.

Please monitor this with your maquiladora so that they are in compliance. If the statements are not present at the time of importation, USDA-APHIS may deny entry into the USA.