The Latest Timber Packaging & Pallet Industry News: Issue 10

Introduction

Welcome to Issue No. 10 of our Newsletter, keeping you up-to-date with what's happening in the industry.

While we find ourselves in a very different landscape as we navigate our way through the uncertainities that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to all of our doors, two pressing issues currently face Ireland's pallet sector - a timber felling licence logjam and the ISPM15 implications of the looming Brexit deadline.  Full details on both below.  CJ SHEERAN are proactive as always and are working hard to ensure stability and continuity of supply within the sector for our valued customers.  Please feel free to contact us - we appreciate your feedback.

Mark Sheeran, Managing Director

This edition's features:

1. Felling Licence Logjam
2. ISPM15 implications of Brexit
3. Run4Eoin Charity Run in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation

Don't hesitate to send us your industry related comments or queries directly to newsletters@cjs.ie as we would love to hear from you.  

Felling Licence Logjam

It has been well reported over the past number of weeks that a surge in appeals against forestry licensing has overwhelmed the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) within the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).  It is reported that an update to the regulations in 2017 subsequently enabled a small number of serial appellants to freely lodge a very large number of appeals causing significant delays in the processing of licences.  These delays are now feared to be threatening the release of critical timber stocks for processing into both construction and pallet timber, threatening jobs and potentially forcing these sectors to turn to imports.

CJ SHEERAN has intensively lobbied Government over the past number of weeks on this matter and have stressed the critical role that the timber pallet plays in delivering life-saving and life sustaining products around the world.  DAFM have confirmed to us that the current changes to procedures are very significant and they have been very challenging to implement such is the scope and breadth of them, which has unfortunately meant that there have been delays in issuing licences.  It has taken substantial resources and effort to introduce a robust and workable system, which meets the legislative requirements which DAFM believes is now in place.  DAFM now has a detailed project plan for dealing with the current backlog and new applications which includes significant extra resources as follows: ecologists, additional forestry inspectors and administrative staff as required.

DAFM tell us that their project plan is a targeted, process-driven approach which prioritises files in a manner which will result in an increased number of licences being issued in the short-term and will deliver a return to expected timelines in the longer term.  DAFM have set detailed monthly output targets for clearing the backlog of files.  

However, there is a critical action that we can all take by 5pm Friday 28th August 2020 to support the Government in their efforts to resolve this temporary disruption which will ultimately make for a better, more sustainable and fit-for-purpose forestry licensing system for many years to come and that is to support the Draft Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2020.  The passing of this bill will streamline the appeals process and lead to a much more efficient and effective processing system alleviating delays.  As Ireland's only FSC certified pallet manufacturer, we fully support this.  To express your support simply e-mail ForestryBill2020@agriculture.gov.ie expressing your support of the Draft Agriculture Appeals (Amendment) Bill 2020 by 5pm Friday 28th August 2020.

ISPM15 Implications of Brexit

While the collective focus may have turned from Brexit to Covid-19 over the past number of months, Brexit is now once again clearly on the horizon and the pallet sector has been keeping one eye firmly fixed on developments regarding the well-reported requirement to heat-treat (HT) all wood packaging moving between the UK and the EU in accordance with the ISPM15 standard post-Brexit.  

The UK has left the EU and the transition period comes to an end on 31st December 2020.  The UK technically becomes a 'Third Country' and the global IPPC ISPM15 standard requires that all wood packaging material moving between the UK and the EU will need to be heat-treated.

As Ireland's largest pallet manufacturer, CJ SHEERAN have been very proactive on lobbying Government and on working with industry bodies to seek clarity on what this new landscape will look like for our sector.  As it stands, the current advice is:

• Pallets going from ROI to UK mainland will need to be HT
• Pallets coming from UK mainland to ROI will need to be HT
• Pallets coming from NI to ROI will not need to be HT
• Pallets coming from UK mainland to ROI via NI will need to be HT
• Pallets going from ROI to UK mainland via NI will need to be HT
• Pallets going from UK mainland to NI will need to be HT
• Pallets going from NI to UK mainland will not need to be HT

We will continue to seek clarity on this developing situation and will advise our customers on any changes to the above.  CJ SHEERAN have the largest kiln drying and heat-treatment capacity in both Ireland and the UK and are on hand to discuss any impact that these new requirements may have on your business.

CJ Sheeran's #Run4Eoin Charity Run raises €22,706

On Friday 14th August the team at CJ SHEERAN took to the roads on an 8k run in memory of a dear friend and colleague, Eoin Malone, who sadly passed away in April following a short illness.  The run was in aid of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation who supported Eoin during his illness and the team succeeded in raising over €22,706.

“We are delighted with the outcome”, says Fergal Moran, Business Development Director at CJ SHEERAN.  “Eoin was our Maintenance Manager and Project Engineer at our Ballinrobe Division for over 20 years.  He kept our production lines going like a watch and his talented hands can be seen all over our factory.  Eoin was a keen runner and had completed the Dublin City Marathon last October.  He was also an avid fundraiser and was always collecting money for various charities around the locality.  We wanted to give something back to the Hospice Foundation and came up with the concept of #Run4Eoin”. 

“Our Laois contingent couldn’t travel to Mayo because of the local lockdown and so participated remotely”, adds Fergal.  “We are forever grateful to everyone who donated, our sponsors, those who participated both in Ballinrobe and remotely, our event organisers, neighbours and friends and in particular the Malone family who will always be part of the CJS team”.  

CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation Martina Jennings said “We want to extend our gratitude to everyone at CJ SHEERAN who have come together to remember their friend and colleague Eoin in this very special way.  The funds raised will go directly to providing palliative care services in the community which is so important to the patients and families in need of such care.  We are also in the middle of building our Roscommon  Hospice which will be completed next year and the €6m it will cost to construct will all come from fundraised income just like the Mayo Hospice in Castlebar. We would not be able to do what we do without events like the Run4Eoin and the people who give of their time to organise such events. We are so grateful to everyone who support them”.

We hope you have enjoyed the 10th edition of our Newsletter

www.cjs.ie

DISCLAIMER: The content of the CJ Sheeran Newsletter and it's website is provided for information purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy or authenticity of the content of this newsletter, CJ Sheeran Limited and its stakeholders assume no responsibility for its content, use or interpretation.  Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only.  CJ Sheeran Limited is not liable for the content, availability or use of such third party websites.