Vol. 573 No. 4
250 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide information on the new EC Directive ISPM 15 which will be effective from January 2004 to a person (details supplied) in view of the circumstances outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25747/03]
International standards for phytosanitary measures are prepared by the secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention as part of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation's global programme of policy and technical assistance in plant quarantine. The IPPC is an international treaty relating to plant health to which 124 governments currently adhere. The purpose of the IPPC is to secure common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures for their control.
The ISPM 15 guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade describes phytosanitary measures to reduce the risk of introduction and/or spread of quarantine pests associated with wood packaging material made of coniferous and non-wood coniferous raw wood, in use in international trade. The forest service is responsible for the implementation of ISPM 15 in Ireland and for ensuring that systems for exports meet the requirements set out in this standard. The timber certification services section of the National Standards Authority of Ireland is implementing the registration schemes on behalf of the forest service. Information on the standard has been supplied to the person in question and is available on my Department's website.
