Loads of regulated wood from Canada or the USA that land in Great Britain now need to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, according to new guidance. Any loads not accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate could be re-exported.
Historically, the UK has accepted industry issued certificates (‘mill certificates’) as proof that coniferous wood from Canada and the USA, including Western Red Cedar, complies with UK import conditions such as heat treatment and heat treatment with kiln drying, debarking and grub hole control.
Traders in the USA have been providing phytosanitary certificates for imports for several years, with traders in Canada continuing to provide mill certificates.
The previous EU derogations do not meet the current UK landing requirements. This means that all industry/mill/heat treatment EU derogation certificates, issued by traders in Canada for the export of conifer wood (heat treatment and heat treatment and kiln drying), including Western Red Cedar (Debarking and Grub Hole Control certificates), will not be accepted in Great Britain after 28 June, 2024.
Nick Boulton, Head of Technical and Trade Policy at Timber Development UK, said: “This is an important change for importers buying coniferous wood from Canada. The UK has always traditionally accepted the practicality of mill certificates to ensure plant health requirements are being met. But in future formal Phytosanitary certificates issued by Canadian authorities will be required for all such shipments.”
