UPDATE 1.12.2024: Following further risk assessment and lobbying from TDUK and Canada Wood, the UK government has revised its intention to impose additional health requirements on Cedar imports from Canada.

Great Britain’s Plant Health Services said it has decided to exclude all Thuja spp. from the Heterobasidion irregulare measures on wood, which are due to come into force on 30 January 2025 in its Winter Pest Measures. The import of wood of Thuja spp. will continue with the existing requirements, leaving the trade unaffected.

Nick Boulton, Head of Technical and Trade Policy at TDUK, said: “Without the intervention of TDUK and our partners at Canada Wood, Cedar imports to the UK would have become more difficult and more expensive. This is a great example of how TDUK works and lobbies on our members’ behalf.”

PUBLISHED 24.10.2024: New Plant Health Requirements are being planned for imports of Cedar wood (Thuja spp.), which includes Western Red Cedar being imported from Canada.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is proposing to bring legislation on the requirements before Parliament in early January, with the aim that they will be implemented at the end of January 2025.

TDUK’s latest Trade Note gives more information on the new Plant Health Requirements, and also includes links to more information about how the legislation will be amended.

The new requirement is for Cedar wood to be heat treated to 56°C for 30 minutes (core temperature) and accompanied with a phytosanitary certificate. Untreated, bark free, or simple kiln dried cedar wood will no longer be accepted.

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