Solid Wood Packing Material From China

This document clarifies the effective date of an interim rule published in the Federal Register on September 18, 1998. In the interim rule, we amended the regulations for importing logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood articles by adding treatment and documentation requirements for solid wood packing material imported from China. That rule is scheduled to take effect on December 17, 1998. We are clarifying that the requirements of the rule apply to shipments that depart China for the United States on or after December 17, 1998, but do not apply to shipments that depart China prior to that date, even if such shipments arrive in the United States after December 17, 1998.