USDA to examine wood pallet role in spreading pests

Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS Company LLC) on August 19 applauded the move by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to hold a series of public meetings on ways to reduce the risk of spreading plant pests in interstate commerce from wood packaging materials, including wood pallets.

“Insect infestation is one of several issues I referenced in my letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requesting a comprehensive investigation into the use of wood pallets to store and ship food,” said Bob Moore, chairman and CEO, iGPS. “I commend the USDA for taking the initiative.”

“It is a well-established fact that wood pallets are susceptible to insect infestation due to the porous nature of wood,” said Moore. “Insects such as the emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle are readily transported to every state in America by the millions upon millions of wood pallets that are used extensively in interstate commerce. This poses a serious threat to U.S. agriculture and forests. Plastic pallets are a safer, more environmentally friendly substitute for wood pallets in interstate commerce. We pledge our full support and cooperation to the USDA as it gathers public comment on alternatives to wood pallets.”

For more information on the USDA public meetings, see the following PDF: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-19643.pdf.

About iGPS
iGPS is the world's first company to provide manufacturers and retailers with an all-plastic pallet pool with embedded RFID-tags. iGPS’s state-of-the-art pallets are 30 percent lighter than wood, which saves on transport costs, are easier to handle and eliminate protruding nails and splinters that cause workplace injuries and damaged equipment. In addition, embedded RFID tags enable shippers and receivers to track and trace shipments in real time.