You must meet UK landing requirements if you’re importing regulated wood material in order to prevent the introduction of harmful pests.

Find out which wood and timber materials are regulated.

Depending on the tree species from which the wood was sourced, the associated pest or disease risk, the wood product type and the country of origin, you must meet a number of phytosanitary (plant health) requirements and get the product verified by a phytosanitary certificate, which should be issued in the country of export.

Register for trading in controlled material

As imports of regulated material must undergo a plant health inspection upon arrival before being released, you or your agent must be registered with us and notify us in advance of landing.

Download the form to apply for registration.

Contracts with your supplier

Once your material lands in Great Britain (GB), it’s your responsibility. To avoid difficulties, delays or financial loss caused by breach of the landing requirements, we strongly advise that you or your agent include a clause in the supplier’s contract to ensure that they meet landing requirements, and are bound to meet any costs incurred as a result of any failure to do so.

Notification and import inspection

You or your appointed agent must complete a Notice of Landing form, which you must use to arrange a timber import inspection.

You cannot land material unless you give advance notice of at least 4 working hours to an inspector for air cargo, and 3 working days for any other case.

Import documents

You must present phytosanitary documents to an inspector, within 3 days of any wood or timber material landing, except in the case of material imported by post, in which case you must fix certificates to the outside of the package.

You must accompany each consignment with either a phytosanitary certificate alone or with another phytosanitary certificate for re-export (where appropriate), or an industry or mill certificate.

The Customs document relating to each consignment of relevant material must include:

• a statement that it contains produce of phytosanitary relevance
• the reference number of the phytosanitary certificate, phytosanitary certificate for re-export or the industry certificate
• the registration number of the importer/agent

Phytosanitary certificates

These certificates state that the controlled material:

• has been officially inspected in the country of origin (or country of dispatch)
• complies with statutory requirements for entry into GB
• is free from quarantine pests and disease
• is substantially free from other harmful organisms

Phytosanitary certificates for re-export

You must provide these if, after a phytosanitary certificate has been issued in the country of origin, the consignment has been stored, repacked or split in another third country before being exported to GB.

Industry and mill certificates

Under arrangements agreed between the EU and the plant protection organisations in Canada and the US, the Forestry Commission has adopted GB derogations that allow for the use of industry and mill certificates instead of phytosanitary certificates for kiln-dried and heat-treated material.

Plant health inspection

All imports of regulated material must be inspected and cleared by a plant health inspector. These inspections are entirely independent of any checks by Border Force or HMRC.

Plant health inspectors usually operate Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (although local arrangements may be in place). Our objective is to inspect goods either on the day we’re notified that they’re ready for examination, or on the next working day.

Point of entry

Plant health checks are made at approved points of entry into GB. To gain approved status, a port or airport authority must provide certain minimum conditions necessary to ensure that inspections can be carried out efficiently and safely and, in the event that it becomes necessary, relevant material can be treated or destroyed.

Key points to note:

• for containerised material, it takes time for port operators to bring material forward for inspection, open the container doors and conduct fumigant gas checks, etc
• port operators will charge for these commercial consignment handling services
• inspectors will only perform inspections if it’s safe to do so

Approved places inland

Plant health legislation provides for approved traders to gain Forestry Commission and HMRC clearance at inland inspection premises instead of at a point of entry.

Eligibility for approved premises status depends on the ability of the applicant to meet certain minimum standards set independently by HMRC and the Forestry Commission. We require a safe working environment for inspectors, with adequate lighting and space to look at every piece of material, if required.

In the absence of fumigant gas-checking facilities supported by trained operators for containerised material, the inspector is likely to insist that containers be devanned at your risk and cost.

Key points to note:

• eligible sites must conform to HMRC’s definition of ‘temporary storage area’ – there will be a cost associated with becoming approved as a ‘temporary storage area’, and you should discuss the implications of this directly with HMRC
• eligible sites must meet our plant health requirements
• approved places of inspection will be subject to an annual review by us

Documentary, identity and plant health checks

Inspections are required to determine whether:

• the consignment or lot is accompanied by the required certificates, alternative documents or marks, and that these are properly completed (documentary check)
• in its entirety, or on one or more representative samples, the consignment or lot consists of or contains the wood, wood products or other objects as declared on the required documents (identity check)
• in its entirety or on one or more representative samples, including the packaging and (where appropriate) the transport vehicles, the consignment or lot or their wood packaging material, complies with the requirements laid down in the Plant Health legislation (plant health check)

Documentary check

The inspector will examine the relevant document to ensure it complies with the regulations. Subject to agreement between EU Member States, it’s possible for consignments to be subjected to a documentary check only in the Member State of first entry into the EU, with the identity and physical checks being carried out in the Member State of destination. This must be arranged in advance and the customs and plant health authorities in both Member States must agree this arrangement, either on a case-by-case basis or on general terms (for example, for one kind of commodity, or a named importer).

The person responsible for the consignment in the Member State of first entry into the EU must complete a Plant Health Movement document in the form set out in the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005.

Before inspection of the relevant material when it arrives in GB, you must be in receipt of a Plant Health Movement document, otherwise the material won’t be released.

Identity checks

If you import wood and wood products, you must meet certain identification requirements. The material must agree with the description given in the documentation accompanying it (for example, phytosanitary certificate or officially approved industry certificate, ship’s manifest or shipping specification sheets) so that it can’t be confused with any other material. For example, lot or bill of landing numbers on the packs must be listed on the phytosanitary or industry certificate.

Plant health checks

The inspector will carry out an examination of all or a representative sample of the consignment to ensure it complies with the appropriate special requirements, such as whether it’s bark-free or has been treated in some way (eg kiln dried). If the wood has been kiln dried or heat treated, it must be clearly marked with ‘KD’ or ‘HT’ or another internationally recognised mark.

Wood from unidentified tree species

Any wood, including wood packaging material or dunnage, from unidentified tree species will be subject to control at the discretion of an inspector.

If you declare the wrong volume

It’s a statutory requirement that phytosanitary certificates accurately describe the volume of material to which they relate. Sometimes certificates declare types of wood not subject to inspection. Where it’s possible to identify the volume and identity/lot/numbers of material from the certificate, we won’t demand a fee for that part of the consignment. However, if it’s not possible to segregate uncontrolled goods, we’ll need to inspect the whole consignment and will charge accordingly.

Inspection fees

You or the person or organisation notifying us of the need for an inspection – or presenting the phytosanitary certificates to us – will be held responsible for the payment of fees unless you make special arrangements for payment. A Certificate of Clearance (forms PHF28) will be issued when we receive payment for an inspection.

Fee payment options

Inspection fees include separate charges for documentary, identity and plant health checks:

Type of check	Volume	Fee
Documentary checks	Per consignment	£7.20
Identity checks	For each load of up to 30m3, forming part of the consignment contained in one truck, railway wagon, or comparable container – per consignment	£7.20
Identity checks for bulk loads	Less than 100m3	£7.20
Identity checks for bulk loads	100m3 or more	£14.40
Plant health checks	Per consignment of wood (other than in the form of shavings, chips or sawdust) – up to 100m3	£31.20
Plant health checks	Per consignment of wood (other than in the form of shavings, chips or sawdust) – over 100m3, each additional m3 or part thereof	£0.25
Reduced frequency of inspection plant health checks of Acer saccharum* (hard maple, sugar maple or rock maple)	Up to 100m3 originating in Canada	£23.40
Reduced frequency of inspection plant health checks of Acer saccharum* (hard maple, sugar maple or rock maple)	Above 100m3 originating in Canada – for each additional m3 or part thereof originating in Canada	£0.20
Plant health checks – per consignment of isolated bark and wood in the form of shavings, chips or sawdust	Up to 25,000kg	£31.20
Plant health checks – per consignment of isolated bark and wood in the form of shavings, chips or sawdust	Above 25,000kg – each additional 1,000kg or part thereof	£0.49

NOTE: goods can be subject to reduced levels of physical inspection set by the European Commission and are based on risk (ie on a random sample of consignments rather than each one).

Where inspections are permitted at ‘approved places inland’, you will be charged a fee of £30 (based on an average 1.5 hours’ additional travel required to perform an inland inspection) in addition to the fees detailed above.

Certificate of Clearance (PHF28)

On satisfactory completion of the inspection, the inspector will issue a Certificate of Clearance (form PHF28), which you must present to HMRC together with the normal customs entry declaration. You must also declare that the consignment contains produce of phytosanitary relevance.

Inspection fail – remedial action

If you haven’t met the landing requirements, you’ll be required to take remedial action. The inspector may also take samples from the material for analysis at Forest Research. Where this is considered necessary, you’ll be served a Statutory Notice prohibiting the removal of the consignment while remedial action or tests are completed.

Any remedial work, which may involve destruction, re-export or treatment, must be carried out to our specification, and satisfaction and under our surveillance. We will charge for this additional monitoring work.

In certain instances, for example where the work required has not been carried out by the due date, we may do the work ourselves, or contract another person to do it and charge accordingly. Where treatment of the material is appropriate, we won’t issue a Certificate of Clearance (PHF28) until we’re satisfied that the material has been treated to the required specification, and poses no further risk to plant health.

Charge for remedial work

Due to the variable factors involved (for example, the size of consignment, the volume affected, and the type of remedial treatment required), the charge is time-based as follows:

• the first hour, including travelling and office time – £37

• each 15 minutes or part thereof thereafter -£9.25

• if office time is required after a site visit – £9.25

We aim to keep this cost to a minimum by remaining onsite only long enough to ensure that treatment is being carried out properly and to its specification. However, it will be necessary to inspect the material on completion of the treatment to ensure that it has been effective. Where possible, we plan for these visits to coincide with the notified timing of treatment. It will be important, therefore, to ensure that you keep us informed of any changes to agreed arrangements.

The fee for this monitoring work becomes due on completion of the remedial work and must be paid before a Certificate of Clearance (form PHF28) is issued. Alternatively, you’ll be issued with an invoice which you may pay through your credit account, if you have one, or by BACS or cheque.

Offences

You can be found guilty of a range of offences, such as making false statements to procure a phytosanitary certificate. The full range of offences can be found in Part 9 of the Plant Health (Forestry) Order. If you’re found guilty of an offence under the Order then you shall be liable to a fine of any amount (see the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2015, which came into force on 11 March 2015.

Read
Importing wood, wood products and bark
(PDF, 551KB, 44 pages)

for more information.

You must notify the Forestry Commission if you plan to import into England or Scotland non-regulated solid fuel wood from non EU countries as well as regulated solid fuel wood material from the EU.

Non-regulated solid fuel wood includes:

• logs
• kindling
• twigs
• billets
• faggots

We use the information from your notification to determine the level of pest risk from trade in fuel wood. We’re concerned that some fuel wood imports do not meet landing requirements and might carry a risk of introducing harmful tree pests and diseases into the UK. We carry out risk-based and random inspections of some consignments to ensure that they meet GB landing requirements.

Enrolment on the scheme

Before you start to notify us of import consignments you must enrol.
You’ll get an enrolment number to use in further correspondence. Enrolment is not compulsory, but you’re encouraged to enrol. You can only do this online.

Notification

You have 2 options:

Paperless

You can submit your notification online.

Once you’ve completed and submitted the form for each new consignment, you’ll be sent an automated email reply with a unique reference number for that consignment. Use this number in any correspondence with us.

Paper

Complete the Statutory Firewood Notification Scheme form electronically or by hand. You can email your form to plant.health@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or post it to:

Notice periods

For sea freight and consignments coming through the Channel Tunnel you should send your notification form at least 3 working days before the material is expected to be landed.

For consignments arriving by air, you must give at least 4 working hours’ notice.

Notes on the form

Most of the information required in the notification form is self-explanatory, but these notes are provided for clarification.

Estimated date of arrival

Enter the estimated date of material landing at a port or airport in England and Scotland.

Place of arrival

Enter the specific port/airport/Channel Tunnel terminus in England or Scotland where the material will be arriving. This should be the first point of arrival in the country of final destination. You should be as specific as possible as some ports, such as Humber, cover a number of locations including Hull, Immingham, Grimsby and Goole, so specify exact ports if known. This might also be the location of any inspection by a plant health inspector if it is deemed necessary, although inspections might also take place at the first destination.

Name of importer

Enter the full name of the importer.

Address of importer

Enter a detailed postal address, including postcode.

Address of first destination after landing

Enter the details, including a postcode, of the first destination point after landing at a port or airport in England or Scotland. This could be a distribution centre or a final destination for the consignment, depending on the importer’s requirements.

The shipping container

Enter a number or numbers, if appropriate. You can leave this field blank.

Genus and species

Ideally, you should state botanical names of tree species if you know them. If not, you can use common names. Use the list of frequently used names for tree species if you’re unsure of the botanical name:

Conifers/softwoods – common name	Botanical name
Norway Spruce	Picea abies
Sitka spruce	Picea sitchensis
Scots pine	Pinus sylvestris
Corsican pine	Pinus nigra
European larch	Larix decidua
Japanese larch	Larix kaempferi
Hybrid larch	Larix eurolepsis
Douglas fir	Pseudotsuga menziesii
Silver fir	Abies alba
Western red cedar	Thuja plicata

Non-conifers/hardwoods – Common name	Botanical name
Ash	Fraxinus
Oak	Quercus
Birch	Betula
Willow	Salix
Maple/Sycamore	Acer
Beech	Fagus
Chestnut	Castanea
Alder	Alnus
Poplar/Aspen	Populus

Type of material being imported

Enter whether the solid fuel wood is in the form of logs, kindling, twigs, billets or faggots.

Quantity

Enter the quantity in tonnes as accurately as is feasible.

Country where the material is imported from

Enter the country from where the solid fuel wood was last moved. (Note that this is not necessarily the country where the firewood was grown.)

Country where the material was grown

Enter the country where the wood was originally grown and harvested.

Phytosanitary treatments

Enter details of the phytosanitary (plant health) treatments, if any, which might have been applied to the solid fuel wood or associated wood packaging material if present, before export, such as treatments undertaken to comply with ISPM15 requirements for third-country and certain EU country imports). Examples include bark freedom, heat treatment and kiln drying.

Exporting company name and address

Enter the full name and address of the exporting company of that species.

Controlled species

Check with the country’s National Plant Protection Organisation if you plan to export to non-EU countries. This gives you information for specific country plant health regulations.

Regulated material

Find out about regulations for export to non-EU countries.

Wood packaging and dunnage

If you export using wood packaging and dunnage, you must check if the product is regulated in destination countries.

Please contact the Forestry Commission’s Cross-Border Plant Health Service for more information.