All

Country
Tonga (TO)
Group
Logs
End use
Processing
NPPO Details
Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFFF), Biosecurity and Quality Management Division
Relevant Web Addresses
http://www.quarantine.gov.to/
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Yes
Phytosanitary Certificate Yes
Additional Declaration/Endorsement No
Protocol Market No
Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.


Where applicable, the exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the endorsement and present it to the 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.

The consignments are to be treated prior to export with one of the followig options:

  • Fumigated with methyl bromide at atmospheric pressure at 48grm/m3 for 24 hours at 21 degrees Celsius and above.

Fumigated with methyl bromide under vacuum of 660 mm mercury at:

  • 64 grm/m3 for 4 hours at 21 degrees Celsius and above;

OR

  • 64 grm/m3 for 5 hours at 4-20 degrees Celsius

Fumigated with sulphuryl fluoride (Vikane) at:

  • 64 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 15.5-20 degrees Celsius;

OR

  • 64grm/m3 for 16 hours at 21 degrees Celsius and above;

OR

  • 80 grm/m3 for 32 hours at 5-10 degrees Celsius ;

OR

  • 80 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 10-15 degrees Celsius;

OR

  • 104 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 5-10 degrees Celsius.

Heat treated at 74 degrees celsius according to the thickness as follows:

  • 25 mm thickness for 4 hours
  • 50 mm thickness for 6 hours
  • 75 mm thickness for 8 hours
  • 100 mm thickness for 10 hours
  • 150 mm thickness for 14 hours
  • 200 mm thickness for 18 hours
  • 250 mm thickness for 22 hours
  • 300 mm thickness for 264 hours

Kiln dried by a standard kiln drying procedure to a maximum moisture contents of 14%.
Temperature and time must be at least those stated under heat treatment

Fumigated with Ethylene oxide under an initial vacuum of 50 kPa at:

  • 1500 grm/m3 for 4 hours at 50 degrees Celsius;

OR

  • 1500 grm/m3 for 24 hours at 21 degrees Celsius

Permanentwood treatment such as with Copper Chrome Arsenic (CCA) in line with Australianregulations

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.


Fumigation of logs in bulk vessel holds

Note: Fumigators may use the Minor Use Permit for methyl bromide obtained by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to meet the importing countries phytosanitary import requirements.

  • Fumigation must be done at the methyl bromide schedule listed above.
  • Prior to commencement of fumigation, an in-hold fumigation plan must be approved by the Grain and Seed Exports Program. The fumigator/exporter is to provide the Grain and Seed Export Program (Grain.Export@agriculture.gov.au) with:
    • Vessel name and IMO, as well as the hold number(s) being used to fumigate logs
    • A draft certificate containing the dosage, temperature and duration in accordance with treatment requirements in Micor/import permit, as well as the vessel name, RFP(s), holds loaded, commodity and its quantity, and signature by a registered fumigator with their contact details.
    • Method of clearing the fumigant from the hold and providing gas-free certification
    • Method of sealing holds during fumigation
    • The re-circulation method and locations of delivery and monitoring lines
  • A reinspection of the logs after fumigation must be done as per the instructional material requirements.

Import permit dated 6 May 2015.
04/02/2025 - Updated general requirements due to legislation changes.
09/08/2023 - Updated treatment requirements to specify that in-transit fumigation is subject to approval of in-hold fumigation plan by GSEP for each fumigation event.
Initial Uploaded: 11/05/2015
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026