All

Country
New Zealand (NZ)
Group
Woodchips
End use
Processing
NPPO Details
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
Relevant Web Addresses
http://www.mpi.govt.nz/
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.


Consignments are to be free from regulated pests specified by the Ministry of Primary Industries in the Import Health Standard.

A copy of the import permit must be presented to an Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


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.


ICR applies to:

  • sawdust
  • wood chips
  • wood shavings
  • wood sawn
  • chipped
  • shaved 
  • peeled to form wood pieces that are either no larger than 15 mm in length and 10 mm in cross-section, or no greater than 3 mm in cross-section if longer than 15 mm.
  • Consignments must be fumigated, in separate units no larger than 2 m3 with methyl bromide or sulphuryl fluoride at 80 grm/m3 for more than 24 continuous hours, and at a minimum temperature of 10 degrees celsius;

OR

  • Heat treatment for 4 hours at a minimum continuous core temperature of 70 degrees Celsius.
  • Heat treatment for 2 hours at a minimum continuous core temperature of 80 degrees Celsius.
  • Heat treatment for 1 hours at a minimum continuous core temperature of 90 degrees Celsius.
  • Heat treatment for 30 minutes at a minimum continuous core temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.
  • Heat treatment for 20 minutes at a minimum continuous core temperature of 110 degrees Celsius.
  • Heat treatment for 15 minutes hours at a minimum continuous core temperature of 120 degrees Celsius.

Treatment must occur no more than 21 days before export.

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.


Treatment certificate must accompany the consignment.

Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 7576)
1) The sawdust, wood shavings, wood chips and wool in this consignment have been inspected according to appropriate official procedures and are considered to be free from the regulated pests specified by MPI, and to conform with New Zealand’s current phytosanitary requirements.

Import Health Standard dated 16 April 2013 and 21 January 2021.

03/02/2025 - Updated general requirements due to legislation changes.
24/08/2023 - New endorsement 7576 created.
Initial Uploaded: 18/07/2016
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026