WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

G/SPS/N/TUR/4
5 October 2004
(04-4167)
Original: English
Committe on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

1. Member to Agreement notifying: TURKEY
If applicable, name of local government involved:

2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), General Directorate of Protection and Control

3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable): Wood packaging materials (wood or wood products (excluding paper products) used in supporting, protecting or carrying cargo).

4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: All countries

5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document: Regulation on Marking Wood Packing Material for Phytosanitary Health and Measures (Official Gazette 4 May 2004/25452), Regulation on Amendment in the Regulation on Marking Wood Packing Material for Phytosanitary Health and Measures (Official Gazette 4 June 2004/25482) (English ,12 pages)

6. Description of content: Turkey proposes to adopt the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packing Material in International Trade (ISPM 15).

- All Wood Packing material entering Turkey from all areas must be treated and certified in accordance with the standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15. In compliance with ISPM 15 Standard, wood packing material should be:

- debarked;

- subjected to fumigation by methyl bromide or heat treatment; and

- marked in compliance with ISPM 15 Standards.

This Regulation lays down the requirements for natural and legal persons engaged in production, marketing and phytosanitary treatment of wood packing material in use in international trade, who must register with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) in order to receive authorization to apply the internationally recognized mark or stamp.

7. Objective and rationale: [ ] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ X ] plant protection, [ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests

8. International standard, guideline or recommendation:

[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), [ X ] International Plant Protection Convention, [ ] None

If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate reference and briefly identify deviations: International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures ISPM No.15 of the International Plant Protection Convention(IPPC)

9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Regulation on Marking Wood Packing Material for Phytosanitary Health and Measures (Official Gazette 4 May 2004/25452), Regulation on Amendment in the Regulation on Marking Wood Packing Material for Phytosanitary Health and Measures (Official Gazette 4 June 2004/25482) (Available in English; 12 pages).

10. Proposed date of adoption: 1 January 2005

11. Proposed date of entry into force: 1 January 2005

12. Final date for comments: 60 days after the date of notification

Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [ X ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:

13. Texts available from: [ X ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:

Turkey SPS Notification Point

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
General Directorate of Protection and Control
Akay Cad.No:3 Bakanliklar ANKARA
Fax: (90) 312 417 81 98
Tel. (90) 312 418 05 21
Email/Internet: her@kkgm.gov.tr
Website: http://www.kkgm.gov.tr