(PRWEB) July 26, 2006 -- Irish wood packaging products must be treated by the required phytosanitary sanitization method and must have the ISPM 15 compliant mark, in order to enter Chinese ports. This measure doesn’t apply to products made with plywood but does include pallets, barrels and casks.

As more and more countries sign up to the international ISPM 15 standard, Irish exporters need to ensure that their packaging is fully compliant according to Mark Sheeran, managing director of CJ Sheeran, a major timber treatments and manufacturing plant in Laois.

In order to be compliant with ISPM 15, the packaging must be heated to a temperature of 56°C for the duration of 30 minutes. Exporters adhering to the ISPM 15 standard no longer face strict importation controls and can trade normally across all borders with minimal disruption.

ISPM 15 tackles the issue of all wooden and timber packaging entering these countries and passing across EU borders and increasingly across the globe. The introduction of the standard is to prevent the inadvertent introduction of foreign insects or pests which may pose a threat to indigenous plants and animals.

Sheeran points to the latest round of trade visits to China where links are being forged between Irish businesses and the burgeoning Chinese marketplace. “China is increasingly becoming a major global marketplace and exporting Irish companies would ignore this market at their peril. However, as China has now signed up to the ISPM 15 standard all exporters need to challenge their pallet and packaging providers to make sure they comply.

“It is no good to ship product all the way to China and then have it rejected at the docks through faulty compliance,” advises Sheeran.

Currently there a number of companies in Ireland, including CJ Sheeran, with the capabilities to treat wooden packaging to the ISPM15 standard. All companies are certified by the Forests Service of Ireland and the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).

About C.J. Sheeran Limited
C.J. Sheeran Limited specialises in the manufacture of non-standard timber packaging and pallets made to high specifications. It manufactures a wide range of timber packaging products for various types of industries including pharmaceutical technology, agri-business, engineering etc. It also boasts a state-of-the-art 150m3 kiln which enables them to HEAT-TREAT its timber packaging and pallets in accordance with IPSM15.

The Recycling Division at C.J. Sheeran Limited can also offer its clients a cost effective way of reducing their wood waste disposal costs. It recycles all wood waste including used/broken timber pallets. If such pallets can be repaired for resale, it offers its customers a rebate on these waste products. All unusable/irreparable wood waste is shredded on-site. Its service provides an economic solution for business anxious to dispose of their wood waste in an environmental, yet cost effective, manner.

In addition to its timber yard, CJ Sheeran manufactures garden furniture, gates and outdoor wood products. It also carries the Werth-Holz range of children’s furniture.

CJ Sheeran is located at Shannon Street, Mountrath, Co Laois. Tel: 0502 56700. The websites are: www.cjs.ie and www.timberfencinggates.ie

For more information please contact:
Jillian Godsil     PRG         053 94 294 55
Ashleigh Doyle     C.J. Sheeran     0502 56700