Friday, May 8, 2026
Forestry Commission has released a detailed update outlining several regulatory changes affecting forestry traders and timber importers across Great Britain. The latest measures focus on strengthened phytosanitary controls, revised customs declaration procedures and updated import requirements for regulated timber products.
The changes have been introduced to improve national biosecurity and reduce the risk of harmful pests and diseases entering the country.
Several new requirements are now in force.
Updated landing requirements now apply to imports of conifer wood, wood products and isolated bark arriving from France. The measures follow the confirmation of a pine wood nematode outbreak in France in November 2025.
Pine wood nematode, also known as pine wilt nematode, is a microscopic pest capable of causing pine wilt disease in conifer trees. The disease is often fatal.
The new controls have been introduced in line with EU Regulation 2012/535/EU.
Additional import restrictions for conifer material from Armenia were also introduced earlier to prevent the spread of the pest.
Under the revised rules, importers must now provide advance landing notifications to the Forestry Commission for all regulated conifer materials arriving from France or Armenia.
Phytosanitary certificates are also required.
The previous exemption for bark-free conifer wood no longer applies. Use of the former 991Y waiver code has also been withdrawn for these materials.
All imported conifer wood and bark must now comply with entries 109, 110 and 111 of Annex 7A of the Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation.
Exporters must ensure that regulated timber products meet strict treatment standards before shipment.
Wood products must either:
Additional transportation conditions also apply where bark remains attached to the wood.
Protective covering requirements have also been specified to prevent infestation during transport.
Importers or agents handling conifer products from France or Armenia must be registered as professional operators with the Forestry Commission.
Advance landing notice periods now include:
Copies of phytosanitary certificates must accompany landing notifications.
Physical inspections may also be required at authorised Border Control Posts or designated Control Points. This includes goods entering through Dover and other Channel ports.
Failure to meet these requirements may result in delays during customs clearance.
Changes to customs declaration procedures are also being phased in by HM Revenue and Customs.
The existing 9115 clearance code used for forestry materials is being replaced with the new C085 code in customs declaration systems.
A transition period has been provided. However, users are being encouraged to begin updating systems and declaration templates immediately.
Businesses are advised to:
Future official guidance will refer only to the new C085 code.
Further legislative updates came into effect on 30 November 2025 under The GB Plant Health Service regulations.
Several pests have now been reclassified.
Agrilus horni, commonly known as the aspen root girdler, and the fungal pathogen Heterobasidion occidentale are now classified as quarantine pests.
Enhanced surveillance and response measures will therefore be applied across Great Britain.
At the same time, two bark beetle species — Dendroctonus micans and Ips cembrae — have been deregulated.
Recent surveillance no longer supports their absence within the Pest Free Area in western Scotland.
This development may affect exports of conifer roundwood and bark from western Scotland to Greece, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Forestry Commission has also highlighted operational concerns regarding freight containers carrying both regulated and non-regulated materials.
In several cases, regulated timber products have reportedly been loaded behind non-regulated goods. This can limit access for inspectors conducting mandatory checks.
Importers are therefore being strongly advised to ensure regulated timber remains easily accessible within containers.
Poor loading practices may lead to unloading delays, additional handling costs or, in some situations, re-export requirements.
Additional restrictions have also been introduced following confirmation of sweet chestnut blight in parts of South Devon.
New controls covering the felling, movement and handling of sweet chestnut trees came into force on 2 April.
Timber plant passports can no longer be issued for sweet chestnut wood containing bark.
Professional operators must now apply directly to the Forestry Commission for separate movement authorisations.
The updated restrictions include a defined demarcated area aimed at limiting further disease spread.
The latest regulatory updates demonstrate the Forestry Commission’s continued focus on strengthening forestry biosecurity and maintaining stricter oversight across timber import and plant health management activities in Great Britain.
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Tags: conifer wood imports, Forestry Commission, forestry traders, phytosanitary regulations, timber imports UK, woodworking industry, woodworking UK
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