Solid Wood Packing Material From China

This document amends an interim rule published in the Federal Register on September 18, 1998, and effective December 17, 1998. That interim rule amends the regulations for importing logs, lumber, and other unmanufactured wood articles by adding treatment and documentation requirements for solid wood packing material imported from the Peoples Republic of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. We are amending certain provisions of that rule regarding two documents, the official certificate and the exporter statement, and provisions regarding use of these documents for the entry of goods imported into the United States from the Peoples Republic of China including Hong Kong. We are adding a provision regarding a third document, the importer statement. We are making these changes to better coordinate the requirements of the rule with the United States Customs Service's electronic Automated Broker Interface system and entry operations procedures.