All

Country
European Union (EU)
Group
Woodchips
End use
Processing
NPPO Details
European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Relevant Web Addresses
https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant_en
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit No
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Refer below
Protocol Market No

Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.

The botanical name of the timber must be stated in the Additional Product Description Field of the RFP. To enable the field on the RFP the exporter must submit a request to the EXDOC Plant Programs via email (EXDOCPlantPrograms.agriculture.gov.au).

Woodchips of coniferous timber or wood except Thuja spp must:

  • originate from areas known to be free from Cerambicid vector (Monochamus spp), Weevil (Pissodes spp) and Bark beetle (Scolytidae spp) - endorsement 3977 applies

OR

  • be sourced from de-barked wood/ timber - endorsement 870 applies

OR

  • be treated by either heat treatment or kiln dried - no endorsement applies but details of treatment to be endorsed on the Phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.

Exporters must check the EU regulations to confirm requirements for woodchips of the species they are exporting.


Where applicable, the exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the endorsement and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


It is the exporter’s responsibility to ensure that the phytosanitary certificate is issued within 14 days of the consignment being exported from Australia.

Refer to the departure date and inspection date in the Request for Permit.


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.

Woodchips of coniferous timber or wood except Thuja spp may be treated by:

  • Kiln dried to below 20% moisture content, expressed as a percentage of dry matter, at time of manufacture, achieved through an appropriate time/temperature schedule

OR

  • Heat treated to achieve a minimum core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes.

The exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the treatment and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.

Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 3977)
1) Cerambicid vector (Monochamus spp) and Weevil (Pissodes spp) are not known to occur in Australia,
2) Bark beetle (Scolytidae spp) is known not to occur in the area of production.

Option 2 (EXDOC Endorsement 870)
1) The consignment is bark free.
01/03/2023 - Update to general requirements to note scientificname should be added to the additional product description and update totreatment requirements.
08/11/2021 - Updated general requirements due to legislation changes.
Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026