Numerous industries utilize the convenience of wooden pallets to simplify domestic and international shipping. Pallets transport produce, pharmaceuticals, beverages, auto parts, medical equipment, and other goods. Safety and sanitation best practices are crucial to protecting consumers from contamination or other concerns when pallets ship medication or food products.
What regulations guide pallet safety and sanitation procedures and practices? Use our Consumer Guide to Pallet Wood Safety to understand better the regulations and federal agencies that protect the health of consumers and the environment, too.
Table of Contents:
Who Oversees Pallet Wood Food Safety?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Madison County Wood Products Uses Safe Wood Pallet Treatments
FAQ: More About Pallet Pests
Synopsis:
The FDA oversees regulations related to packaging used to ship food, produce, and pharmaceuticals. Wood pallets must adhere to stringent guidelines to protect the health and safety of consumers (and pets). In addition, the Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) provides oversight about importing and exporting wood packaging that could harbor invasive pests.
Who Oversees Pallet Wood Safety?
Wood packaging, including pallets, is used to ship food products and pharmaceuticals. To minimize the risk of chemical contamination and foodborne illnesses, federal agencies provide oversight related to standards of wood treatment, proper handling, and other safety precautions.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA oversees the safety and standards related to the packaging, security, and efficacy of pharmaceuticals (for humans and animals), biological products, and food. Title 21 in the Code of Federal Regulations is a subchapter that outlines the guidelines and protocols related to “food for human consumption.
What is the Relevance of Title 21 in the Code of Federal Regulations?
Title 21 focuses on food and drugs, and Part 112 is titled “Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption.” The regulations detail oversight related to the harboring of pests and proper cleaning. One of the regulation standards states: “If you use equipment such as pallets, forklifts, tractors, and vehicles such that they are intended to, or likely to, contact covered produce, you must do so in a manner that minimizes the potential for contamination of covered produce or food contact surfaces with known or reasonably foreseeable hazards.“
The Care and Cleaning of Wood Pallets
The National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) details the cleaning and care process expected of suppliers who produce pallets utilized by the food industry. The Association explains that the guideline is deemed the Final Rule, and this rule is “flexible” in how each company manages the cleaning of pallets.
However, the design of pallets must be conducive to easy care. This guideline is also outlined in the FDA’s Title 21 (Part 112), which states that pallet design must allow for easy care, and, more specifically, details that: “Seams on food contact surfaces of equipment and tools that you use must be either smoothly bonded, or maintained to minimize accumulation of dirt, filth, food particles, and organic material and thus minimize the opportunity for harborage or growth of microorganisms.“
There is one exception to the cleaning rule. Pallets that transport foods that are fully wrapped or packaged do not need to abide by the same stringent guidelines. The reason is that the food is not at risk for contamination or exposure to any potential microorganisms.
The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
This sector of the Department of Agriculture focuses on mitigating potentially dangerous and invasive species that could impact our fragile ecosystems. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) oversees wood packaging materials, including pallets.
Pallets imported from other countries pose a serious risk of carrying foreign pests that wreak havoc on our native species. APHIS established ISPM 15, an international oversight standard designed to prevent nonnative species from entering countries during shipping. U.S. Border Control and customs agents with specialized agricultural expertise enforce the regulation.
About ISPM 15 Compliance
Compliance with ISPM 15 requires that importers ensure that all wood packaging is properly de-barked, heat-treated, fumigated, and free of pests or insects. All wood packaging MUST include a logo of ISPM 15 that denotes compliance.
Exporters must understand the regulations of the country to which the product is exported. Not all countries follow or comply with ISPM 15.
What pests invade wood packaging like pallets? Insects are the most prevalent invasive threats to the environment, and the most damaging insects include:
Emerald ash borer
Asian long-horned beetle
Bark beetles
About the Emerald Ash Borer
The emerald ash borer derives its name from its emerald green shell. The beetle is native to Asia and threatens ash tree species. Emerald ash borers seek out crevices or nooks in ash trees to lay their eggs. When the larvae hatch, they dig into the ash tree and feed. Infestations are lethal, resulting in the loss of ash trees across the U.S. Once an infestation is identified, the tree must be eradicated to prevent infestation spread.
What is the Asian Long-Horned Beetle?
This beetle is named for its long antennae that look like horns. Like the emerald ash borer, this beetle hails from Asia. The long-horned beetle targets hardwood trees like the maple. As the beetle feeds on the internal tissues of a tree, the structural integrity becomes compromised. Infested trees are a risk to property and people.
Bark Beetles: Tiny Insects that Devastate Trees
Bark beetles are tiny, and they feed on the underside of tree bark. The beetles send scent signals to others, alerting them of the feast. The sheer volume of insects overwhelms the tree and compromises its health.
Madison County Wood Products Uses Safe Wood Pallet Treatments
All wood pallets produced by Madison County Wood Products comply with federal regulations and standards, including ISPM 15. Our pallets are treated with mold-free applications that are safe for shipments used for food, pharmaceuticals, and other products. We provide pallets for the food, animal health, and pharmaceutical industries.
Clients are assured that every pallet we design provides safe, sturdy transportation for all types of products. Reach out to us to begin the design process for customized wooden pallets that fully comply with FDA regulations and ISPM 15.
FAQ: More About Pallet Pests
How was the emerald ash borer introduced?
It is believed that imported goods shipped on infested ash wood crates or pallets introduced the emerald ash borer into the U.S.
When did the emerald ash borer arrive?
The EAB likely began its infestation in the U.S., but it was first discovered in 2002.
What can be done to kill the Asian long horned beetle?
The only solution for mitigating an Asian long horned beetle infestation is by removing the tree and destroying the structure. Any infested pallets also must be destroyed.
How do bark beetles kill trees?
Bark beetles eat the underside of bark and attack the tree in large numbers; this overwhelms the tree and leads to its demise.
What eats bark beetles?
Woodpeckers are a great natural predator against these beetles!
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