Importing and exporting wood and timber products
Collection of plant health guidance and forms for trading in wood, wood products, firewood, bark, dunnage or wood packaging.
If you import or export certain wood and timber products to or from the UK you will have to comply with plant health regulations, restrictions and requirements.
The regulations are designed to protect the natural environment and plant-based industries of receiving countries from introductions of harmful organisms that can be present in wood. These include certain species of insects, bacteria and fungi.
Phytosanitary certificates required for North America imports
Regulated wood from Canada or the USA, which will land in Great Britain after 28 June 2024, needs to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.
Historically, the UK has accepted industry issued certificates (‘mill certificates’) as proof that coniferous wood, including western red cedar, from Canada and the USA complies with UK import conditions such as heat treatment and heat treatment with kiln drying, debarking and grub hole control.
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 and western red cedar, will no longer be accepted in Great Britain after Friday 28 June 2024.
Any loads not accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate could be re-exported.
Plant Health News
Plant Health News keeps importers and exporters of wood, timber products, wood packaging and dunnage up to date with changes in legislation, regulations and requirements.
Read the latest Plant Health News. Or sign up to receive these by email: plant.health@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
Contact Plant Health Forestry
If you have any queries, contact Plant Health Forestry.
Find contact details for plant health inspectors: points of entry.
If you wish to raise a complaint about Plant Health Forestry, you can follow our complaints procedure.
Guidance
Find out what you must do if you import or export different types of regulated wood material.
Forms
Forms you must complete when proposing to undertake certain types of wood importing and exporting activities.
Publications
Information and guidance about aspects of importing and exporting wood materials.
Updates to this page
Last updated 11 September 2024 + show all updates
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Updated contact details and added a link to our complaints procedure.
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Added link to import timber, wood products or bark guidance.
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Removed a link to 'Importing wood, wood products and bark' as the webpage has been withdrawn as it's out of date.
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Added section on phytosanitary certificates being required for North America imports from 28 June 2024.
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Added information about withdrawal of 999L waiver code to CTA box.
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Apply for an export credit account form removed. There is now only one type of credit account, which can be accessed through the link in the collection.
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Links to the 'Register a Place of Destination' form and ‘Register as a Professional Operator to issue Plant Passports’ page have been added to this page,
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The following call for evidence has been added to this page: - Prevent the introduction of oak lace bug into Great Britain: call for evidence
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The following publication has been added to this page: Importing firewood: requirements for landing material into Great Britain
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Removed information about email subscriptions to plant health news.
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First published.