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Insects Drive New Restrictions

Another environmental nightmare fostered by wooden pallets is the import and export of wood-boring parasites between countries and continents. Insects such as the Asian Longhorned Beetle, Asian Cerambycid Beetle, Pine Wood Nematode, Pine Wilt Nematode, Anoplophora Glabripennis and others have appeared in the U.S. after being shipped across the Pacific from Asia within wooden pallets.

Many countries now restrict the use of solid wood packaging materials due to uncertainties as to what they might carry deep within the wood itself. New USDA regulations stipulate that any wood packaging imported to the U.S. from China be specially heat-treated to kill larva nesting deep within the wood itself. China, the United Kingdom, and other countries have also imposed import controls on wooden packaging.

For further information on insect-related restrictions please see:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/chinaswp/pwnqas.html
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/chinaswp/pra.html
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/chinaswp/chinaqas.html
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/chinaswp/chinarule.html

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