All

Country
China (CN)
Group
Woodchips
End use
Processing
NPPO Details
General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC)
Relevant Web Addresses
http://english.customs.gov.cn/
http://dzs.customs.gov.cn/dzs/2595646/index.html
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit No
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement No
Protocol Market No
Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.


Woodchips with bark should have gone through effective quarantine treatment in the exporting country or region, and the Phytosanitary certificate should indicate the method, chemical and dosage, duration and temperature of the treatment.

Woodchips free of bark should be declared on the Phytosanitary certificate.

Woodchips without an accompanying Phytosanitary certificate, or woodchips with bark that have not gone through quarantine treatment shall not be allowed to enter China.

General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will inspect imported woodchips, and if quarantine pests are found, quarantine treatment must be conducted by the importer under the supervision of AQSIQ, with the cost of treatment being borne by the importer.

If the treatment could not be conducted, the woodchips shall be refused entry.

The woodchips shall be described as either: Woodchips - with bark or Woodchips - de-barked.

Contact your local Department of Agriculture Plant Exports Office for more details in relation to:
  • Inspection of the container prior to loading
  • Inspection of the woodchips prior to loading
  • Mandatory treatment of woodchips with bark (pre-shipment)
  • Phytosanitary certification

The Export Control Act 2020 and the Export Control (Wood and Woodchips) Rules 2021, require an export licence issued by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for any exports of two tonnes or more of:

  • woodchips;
  • wood in the round (i.e. logs);
  • wood with a cross-sectional area of at least 225 square centimetres

These are considered 'prescribed goods' under the Export Control (Wood and Woodchips) Rules 2021. 

A licence is not required for the above listed wood and woodchips if:
  • the wood or woodchips are sourced from an area covered by a Regional Forest Agreement (RFA). Details regarding the areas covered by RFAs can be found here: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/forestry/policies/rfa.
  • the wood or woodchips are derived from trees harvested outside Australian territory, including those transiting through Australia.
  • the wood or woodchips are sourced from a plantation in a State with an approved code of practice for the establishment, management and harvesting of all plantations in that State.

If an export licence is required, it is the responsibility of exporters to obtain a licence to export prescribed wood or woodchips prior to export.

Exporters can find information on how to obtain an export licence for prescribed wood or woodchips on the departments website - Exports of unprocessed wood and woodchips (wood export licensing) - DAFF.

Any enquires on what is classed as prescribed wood or woodchips should be directed to: wood.export@aff.gov.au, or call (02) 6272 4353.

The only responsibility authorised officers have in relation to the export licences for unprocessed wood is to inform unprocessed wood exporters of the possible requirement to hold a licence to export unprocessed wood.

All wood chips with bark shall be treated using a treatment method approved by the China Inspection and Quarantine authorities (CIQ).

The approved treatments and the rates may be obtained from CIQ, People's Republic of China.

Wood chips with bark shall be treated pre-shipment if the treatment is to be endorsed on the Phytosanitary Certificate and the treatment shall be available for Department of Agriculture monitoring of fumigant retention for the duration of the treatment.

Wood chips without bark do not require mandatory treatment by CIQ, China, prior to shipment.
AQSIQ regulations dated 7 July 2011
03/02/2025 - Updated general requirements due to legislation changes.
30/11/2021 - Updated general requirements to reference current wood export legislation.
Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026