All

Country
French Polynesia (PF)
Group
Woodchips
End use
Processing
NPPO Details
Biosecurity Directorate of French Polynesia (DBS)
Relevant Web Addresses
https://www.service-public.pf/biosecurite/
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Yes
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement No
Protocol Market No
A copy of the import permit must be presented to an Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


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


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.


Import permit required:

  • for untreated, air dried, fumigated wood chips and sawdust of any species.
  • for all wood chips and sawdust of Pinus speces and Myrtaceae species and for Coconut wood (Cocos nucifera).

Import permit not required:

  • for wood chips and sawdust that is heat treated or treated with a permanent chemical preservative (with the exception of Pinus spp and Myrtaceae species and coconut wood).
Phytosanitary certificate required:

  • for untreated, air dried, fumigated wood chips and sawdust.
  • Phytosanitary certificate or treatment certificate required for wood chips and sawdust that have been heat treated or treated with a permanent chemical preservative.
Wood chips from Arecaceae, Pandanaceae and Sterculiaceae is prohibited.

Myrtaceae species:
  • Acca
  • Corymbia
  • Metrosideros
  • Myrtus
  • Angophora
  • Eucalyptus
  • Myrcia
  • Pimenta
  • Callistemon
  • Eugenia
  • Myrcicmthes
  • Syncarpia
  • Campomanesia
  • Melaleuca
  • Myrciaria
  • Syzgium
Preservative treatment, heat treatment or fumigation required for Pinus spp and species other than Myrtaceae.

Myrtaceae species require preservative treatment or heat treatment.

Used wood chips and sawdust must be heat treated or fumigated to ISPM 15 specifications.

Fumigation:

  • ISPM 15 specification - all species except coconut wood and Myrtaceae species
    80gm/m3 for 24 hours at 20 degrees celsius minimum temperature - coconut wood only.
  • Fumigation must be undertaken within 21 days prior to export.

Heat treatment:

  • To ISPM 15 specification - all species except coconut wood and Myrtaceae species.
  • 85 degrees celsius minimum temperature in the core of the wood for at least 8 consecutive hours.
  • 70 degrees celsius minimum temperature in the core of the wood for at least 4 hours - coconut wood only.
  • Heat treatment must be undertaken within 21 days prior to export.

Preservative treatment:

  • Preservative treatments must be hazard class 2 (H2) or higher.
  • Penetration must include all sapwood and a minimum of 5mm from any surface.
  • Preservative treatments must be durable, resistant to leeching and considered permanent.
  • All wood chips or sawdust must have a moisture content of less than 25%.
    After treatment, wood chips or sawdust must be packaged and/or shipped in such a way as to prevent contamination by quarantine pests.
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.

NPPO notification dated 23 February 2011.
03/02/2025 - Updated general requirements due to legislation changes.
Initial Uploaded: 29/07/2014
Reviewed Uploaded: 21/07/2026