A-1 PALLETS LTD: NOVA SCOTIA’S IPPC CERTIFIED FACILITY
IPPC certified wood packaging products are required for most international shipping. The majority of overseas shipping requires certified material and the U.S. government is close to requiring IPPC certified material for cross border shipping.
A-1 Pallets Ltd. in Onslow Mountain, Nova Scotia (only an hour from the Halifax/Dartmouth area) is certified through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to produce wood packaging products for shipment to member counties.
As a certified facility, we are subject to regular inspections and recordkeeping requirements of the program to ensure compliance of your shipping materials
Year round service minutes from Highway 102. Delivery and pick up options are available. Weekly deliveries made to the Halifax/Dartmouth area. Shipping arrangements from Nova Scotia can be arranged to other areas of the Maritimes.
Why Choose IPPC Certified Pallets?
When it comes to shipping goods internationally an IPPC certified pallet is simply the best choice. Many nations around the world will only permit IPPC certified pallets to enter their borders. Canada included. Only wooden pallets made domestically or in the United States are allowed in Canada without an IPPC certification.
The International Plant Protection Committee (IPPC) is an international treaty designed to protect plants by minimizing the spread of pests and diseases. So choosing an IPPC certified pallet is not just about conforming to international regulations, it’s about being an environmentally responsibly organization.
Eliminating Pests and Disease
The best ways to eradicate potential pests and diseases from a wooden pallet are fumigation and heating. Fumigated pallets may have some traces of the chemicals used to treat them so heated pallets are considered a superior option. Heated pallets are environmentally preferable and better for consumer safety.
All IPPC certified pallets have been heat-treated.
By heating the wood to fifty-six degrees Celsius for thirty minutes we kill any and all parasites in every life stage.
Formosan termites are believed to have been introduced into the United States through wooden cargo after World War Two. Termites are destructive and this new species thrived in the humid climate of the Southeastern United States. IPPC certified pallets were designed to protect the environment of both importer and exporter by preventing the transportation of invasive species.
Practical Benefits of Heat Treatment
But even ignoring the environmental imperative, IPPC certified pallets are a good choice for any business. Heat treating the wood reduces its moisture content, which decreases in overall weight — translating into significant savings when the scale of shipping is factored in.
Furthermore, once a pallet has been treated it never needs to be treated again. As long as the pallet has all its original parts it can be exported and re-exported, making an IPPC certified pallet good value for your money.
IPPC certified pallets often find new life after shipping. Since the pallets have not been treated with chemicals they are safe to be burned and used as an energy source. Many DIY enthusiasts have also taken to using old pallets in their products. IPPC certification guarantees that your wooden pallet is the safest to ship or use in whatever other capacity you see fit.
Identifying an IPPC Certified Pallet
Every wooden pallet is stamped so that it is easily identifiable. IPPC certified pallets will have a stamp including the IPPC logo and a code indicating the origins of the pallet and what methods it was treated with.
The code looks like this:
XX – 000 – YY
XX is the country code (CA is Canada)
000 will show the license number of the manufacturer
YY shows how the wood has been treated (HT means heat treated)
This system ensures that you can identify your IPPC certified pallet at a glance.