CBP Agriculture Specialists in El Paso Find Pest in Pallet
September 24, 2009On September 17, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists made an important discovery at the El Paso port of entry. They intercepted the living pupa of a wood-boring insect while inspecting a shipment of pallets being imported from Mexico.
“This tiny pest could be harmful to our forests,” said Ana Hinojosa, U.S. Customs and Border Protection director of Field Operations in El Paso. “CBP agriculture specialists play an important role in identifying pests that could cause significant harm in the United States.”
The discovery was made at the Bridge of the Americas commercial cargo lot. CBP agriculture specialists were inspecting a shipment of wooden pallets when they found the wood-boring pest in a reconditioned pallet that had not been properly treated for importation into the United States. The entire shipment was returned to Mexico for treatment.
All wood packing materials (WPM), such as pallets, crates, boxes, and pieces of wood used to support or brace cargo, must meet import requirements and be free of timber pests before entering or transiting through the United States. All WPM entering or transiting through the United States must be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide. The WPM must also be marked with an approved international logo, certifying it has been appropriately treated.
CBP will require the immediate re-exportation of any unmarked WPM as well as any marked WPM that is found to be infested with a live wood-boring pest. All costs associated with the reexportation are the responsibility of the importer or party of interest.
