The United States Department of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has entered into a program with the American Lumber Standard Committee and with U.S. ALSC approved grading agencies to audit lumber producers in the marking of heat treated products. This program provides the necessary documentation that heat treated Southern Pine lumber used in pallets, crates, boxes, etc., has reached a critical temperature at the core to eradicate the "Pinewood Nematode" and its vectors (56°C/133°F for 30 minutes).

SPIB audit services will be provided to lumber producers who have already demonstrated that they can properly kiln dry Southern Pine lumber and in most cases, these producers already stamp their domestic lumber with KD stamps. Since a major portion of Southern Pine used in these applications may not be grade-marked (No. 3-No. 4 mixed), the EU countries have stated that all coniferous species must be heat treated for pasteurization prior to being used in packaging materials exported from the USA. This program will require the marking of each and every piece of lumber used in these applications with a "HT" (heat treated) mark which identifies the pasteurization process (kiln drying) and the location of the kiln facility.