IRG Newsletter 0206

02/2006 30 April

Member News

New members
IRG welcomes the following new members.
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2006 Ron Cockcroft Award recipients and IRG Travel Awards
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Regulatory News

Europe: Existing Active Substances
This document contains the consolidated text of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2032/2003 as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1048/2005.
Annex II contains the exhaustive list of existing active substances in respect of which:

at least one notification has been accepted by the Commission in accordance with Article 4(2) of Commission Regulation Regulation (EC) No 1896/2000; or

a Member State has indicated an interest in accordance with Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1896/2000.

That list specifies, for each notified existing active substance included, the product type(s) in respect of which notification has been accepted or a Member State has expressed an interest.
Australia: New CCA treated timber laws in place
Following March 12 2006 new laws legislate that CCA preservative chemical may not be used for treating timber intended for use as garden furniture, picnic tables, exterior seating, children's play equipment, patio and other domestic decking boards, and handrails in Australia. All other timber may continue to be treated with CCA, but these products will be required to be marked with the words "Treated with copper chrome arsenate". Customers have been assured that all Australian CCA-treated timber will be clearly marked.
(From Friday Offcuts – 07 April 2006; Source: March 2006 TDA Newsletter).
Read more here

China: Rules changed to wooden packaging
China is tightening up its rules regarding wooden packaging for imported cargo, in an attempt to stop pests and diseases entering the country. From January 2006, China is requiring all wooden packaging used for imported cargo to have a quarantine certificate/mark, including pallets. All wooden packaging must be treated and have an International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) mark. The State General Administration of the People's Republic of China for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine announced that a trial period would be held from 1 January to 30 June 2006. During this time, Chinese officials would sample wooden packaging. If no harmful living beings were found, then the cargo could be released; otherwise, the wooden packaging would be treated or destroyed. For packaging without IPPC marks, notices of violating rules would be sent out to importing companies or agents, samples would be taken and the packaging treated or destroyed as necessary. More severe measures are expected to be taken after the trial period.
(From Friday Offcuts – 24 March 2006).
Read more
From 25 February 2006 Honduras is requiring all wooden packaging used for imported cargo to have a quarantine certificate/mark concerning ISMP15, including pallets.
Read more (in German)

Europe: Thermally Modified Timber - Definitions and characteristics
Wood modification through techniques such as heat treatment, as an alternative to chemical preservation, is subject to standardization in Europe by CEN. The Technical Committee CEN/TC 175, "Round and sawn timber", WG 3 TG 6 has drafted a Technical Specification giving definitions and characteristics for Thermally Modified Timber (TMT) used in dry, humid and exterior conditions.
The present draft prTS 175-108 is available for review and comment.

Business News

New timber treatment technology
Australian scientists have come up with a cleaner, more durable and efficient way to preserve timber for outdoor uses, from weatherboards and timber decking to vineyard posts and garden structures.
(From Friday Offcuts – 31 March 2006).
Read more here

Wolman and IBC in Partnership
Wolman gears up for success in Ireland
Read more here

Scientific News

Termites found in Nelson
A colony of Australian subterranean termites, Coptotermes acinaciformis, has been found in a single property in Richmond, Nelson, Biosecurity New Zealand senior advisor Mark Ross said today. 'It is highly likely the termites arrived with imported Australian used railway sleepers more than 10 years ago. Current regulations require all imported railway sleepers to be compulsory stopped and fumigated on arrival at the border.
(From Friday Offcuts – 3 March 2006).
Read more about termites in Nelson

Assessment tools under-rate wood's advantages
Research undertaken by the CSIRO has found that choice of construction materials has little or no influence on a building's "green" rating in Australia, and that environmental assessment tools limit specifiers' ability to judge materials' suitability for sustainable construction. The study of 27 environmental assessment tools, funded by the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation (FWPRDC), found that most tools had marginal relevance to manufacturers or suppliers of building materials, and that their failure to include indicators reflecting environmental attributes of different building resources under-rated the benefits of materials such as wood.
(From Friday Offcuts – 31 March 2006).
Read more
View the full report

IRG Secretariat News

IRG 37 in Tromsø, Norway, update

IRG 37 is coming closer and those who intend to attend the meeting are advised to register for the conference and book the accommodation now. As the meeting is held during the peak tourist season you may have difficulties with your accommodation if you don't book early.
The IRG 37 Organizing Committee reminds registrants again that if you use the online accommodation registration (Form B) on the web-site, you will get no immediate confirmation. Please, do not re-send Form B several times. The confirmation of hotel reservation will be sent to you from the Local Organizers after a couple of days either by e-mail, fax or regular mail.
More than 100 papers have been received so far and more papers are expected. The documents CD-ROM will be prepared soon and circulated to members, sponsors and conference guests.

Invoicing 2006 - Reminder
This is a reminder to those who have not yet paid their 2006 dues to do so.
To facilitate your payment, go to the IRG website and take advantage of credit card payment by the secure site for membership renewal.

IRG Directory 2006
The 2006 edition of the International Directory of Members and Sponsors has recently been distributed to all fully paid up members and sponsors.
Please check that the copy you have received is correct. Some copies have a defect page 58. Please inform the Secretariat if you have received a defect copy and we will send a new one.

The Compendium available online
On-line access to the Compendium (IRG documents 1969-2005 in pdf format) is now available for members and sponsors. The feedback so far from those who have taken advantage of this service is very positive.
Please note that log in information is e-mailed as soon as payment of the 2006 dues has been received and registered by the Secretariat. Click on "Search an IRG document" on the IRG website and then on "Sign in".

The Revised guidelines for organizing an IRG Annual Meeting
The guidelines for organizing an IRG conference (part of the "Procedurues Manual) have been subject to a revision since last year. A new version was approved by the Executive Council recently. Click the link to view the document IRG 06-60214.pdf.

New journal
A new journal 'Wood Material Science & Engineering' has been launched. Contributions on wood protection are welcome. See info on Woodscience.

Sponsor the IRG e-Newsletter!
IRG regular sponsors and members' institutes are kindly invited to sponsor the production of the IRG e-Newsletter in order to cover the costs involved for production of the same.
The IRG e-Newsletter is scheduled for six issues per year, and for each issue a sponsor is welcome. The fee for sponsoring the e-Newsletter is USD 275 (SEK 2.100) in 2006. The e-Newsletter sponsor will then get the company/institute logo on the front page and a link to the company/institute website.
For sponsoring the second 2006 issue of the e-Newsletter, Dr Wolman GmbH is kindly acknowledged. Please contact the IRG Secretariat, if you are interested in sponsoring the e-Newsletter.

Legal Information
Read legal information here

Editorial
If you have information related to wood protection being of general interest for Regular Members, Student Members or IRG Sponsors, please email to the NiB editor with the name of the web page and the URL.