Wood Packaging Materials: U.S. Enforcement

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a Press Release stating that, effective September 16, 2005, it will enforce the new requirements for wood packaging material imported into the United States (as published on September 15, 2004). The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued an Implementation Plan which provides for informed compliance (basically written warnings) between September 16, 2005 and January 31, 2006. Phase II of the CBP plan calls for enforcement of the requirements via re-exportation and would be in effect from February 1 through July 4, 2006. Full enforcement (Phase III) would commence on July 5, 2006. Query: Are these agencies on the same page? Will enforcement vary depending on which inspector shows up? (HK Law).