[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 310 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 310

    Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to unilateral 
   altering, by the European Union, of the standards for imports of 
                         certain wood products.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 18, 2005

   Mr. Ford submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to unilateral 
   altering, by the European Union, of the standards for imports of 
                         certain wood products.

Whereas the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures Number 15, 
        commonly known as ``ISPM 15'', is a United Nations standard adopted in 
        2002 to reduce the risk of introducing plant pests and pathogens that 
        can be detrimental to agriculture and to natural, cultivated, and urban 
        forest resources;
Whereas more than 20 countries have implemented ISPM 15, including the United 
        States;
Whereas the European Union has announced its intent to alter the ISPM 15 
        standard as it applies to imports of wood packaging materials, without 
        meeting all of the procedural terms and technical stipulations as agreed 
        to in the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC);
Whereas the United States shares with the European Union and the other nations 
        participating in the IPPC the goal of implementing and maintaining 
        international standards that enhance the free flow of goods around the 
        world, while preserving and protecting crops and forests from the 
        introduction of targeted nonnative quarantine pests;
Whereas the IPPC provides a specific process for evolving the standard contained 
        in ISPM 15 that begins with technical justification;
Whereas the European Union's implementation date for mandating that all wood 
        packaging be debarked by March 1, 2006, does not allow time for the IPPC 
        process to complete its evaluation of any scientific evidence that is 
        forthcoming; and
Whereas any unilateral introduction of requirements for imports of wood 
        packaging would represent a significant trade barrier to shippers in the 
        United States exporting goods to European Union countries: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the European Union's unilateral attempt to alter the 
        International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures Number 15 
        (ISPM 15) as it applies to imports of wood packaging materials 
        is in violation of the International Plant Protection 
        Convention (IPPC); and
            (2) the President should ask the European Commission to 
        agree to the following:
                    (A) Suspending the requirement that all wood 
                packaging be debarked until such time as there is 
                credible scientific evidence of the need for such a 
                standard.
                    (B) Allowing relevant scientific data to be 
                processed through authorized IPPC channels.
                    (C) If the relevant IPPC entities conclude that 
                there is technical justification for changing ISPM 15, 
                developing a clear definition of ``debarked'' wood 
                packaging for pallets and containers in accordance with 
                the terms and provisions of the IPPC, and communicating 
                such definition to all IPPC participating nations in a 
                clear and unambiguous manner in order to ensure 
                understanding of the new requirement and consistent 
                enforcement by all parties.
                    (D) Allowing sufficient time for the Animal and 
                Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States 
                Department of Agriculture to put in place a system for 
                the use of a ``debark'' mark or other stamp or 
                indication for pallets and containers, signifying 
                compliance with applicable international requirements.
                    (E) Establishing an implementation date for the new 
                requirement with which United States wood packaging 
                manufacturers can reasonably comply.
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