The Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) has called on the UK Government to use the proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to reduce regulatory pressures affecting the pallet and timber packaging industry.
The industry body has submitted its recommendations to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as part of the Government’s consultation on the proposed agreement with the European Union. The agreement aims to simplify trade by reducing border inspections, certification requirements and administrative procedures between both markets.
TIMCON believes the negotiations offer an important opportunity to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers that have affected businesses since the United Kingdom left the European Union.
A major concern raised by the organisation relates to the continued application of ISPM15 requirements governing the movement of wooden pallets and timber packaging between the UK and EU.
According to TIMCON, member companies have invested substantial resources to comply with these international phytosanitary standards. Those investments have helped maintain uninterrupted trade. However, they have also added significant long-term operating costs across the industry.
The organisation noted that compliance has required ongoing spending on heat treatment, certification procedures and operational management. Additional expenses linked to energy, transport and fuel have further increased financial pressure on manufacturers and pallet suppliers.
Many of these increased costs have been transferred to customers. Nevertheless, businesses within the sector have continued to absorb a considerable share of the financial burden as part of normal operations following Brexit.
In correspondence sent to DEFRA, TIMCON Secretary General Stuart Hex explained that the pallet and timber packaging industry has adapted successfully to the regulatory environment. However, he argued that the current arrangements continue to create avoidable costs and administrative complexity.
TIMCON supports closer regulatory cooperation between the UK and the European Union in relation to food safety, animal health and plant health standards. The organisation believes such alignment could provide an opportunity for pallets and timber packaging to receive special exemptions or complete removal from ISPM15 requirements when moving between the two trading regions.
If such measures are introduced, businesses across the supply chain could benefit from lower compliance costs and fewer administrative processes.
Reduced bureaucracy would also support manufacturers, logistics providers and transport operators that rely heavily on timber packaging products. Faster border procedures could improve the movement of goods while increasing the competitiveness of UK exports entering European markets.
The organisation believes these changes would benefit a wide range of industries beyond agriculture and food production. Any business exporting products on wooden pallets could experience lower transport costs and improved supply chain efficiency.
TIMCON has also encouraged the Government to continue negotiations without unnecessary delay.
The organisation stated that progress on the SPS Agreement should continue despite the forthcoming political leadership contest. Early implementation, it argued, would allow businesses to realise the commercial advantages of simplified regulations sooner.
The proposed agreement is widely viewed as an opportunity to strengthen trading relationships while reducing friction for businesses operating across UK-EU supply chains.
The consultation process remains an important stage in shaping future trade arrangements. Industry feedback has been provided to ensure that practical operational challenges faced by manufacturers are considered during negotiations.
Further developments on the consultation are expected to be shared with TIMCON members later this year.
The organisation has confirmed that updates on the SPS Agreement and wider industry matters will be presented during its Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 10 September at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Edinburgh.
The event will bring together representatives from across the timber packaging and pallet sector to discuss current market conditions, regulatory developments and future priorities.
Following the AGM, delegates will attend a formal dinner at Edinburgh Castle.
During the evening, winners of the inaugural TIMCON Awards will be announced.
The awards programme was introduced in June to recognise outstanding achievement across the timber packaging and pallet industry. Five award categories have been established to celebrate excellence in business performance and workforce development.
The categories include Customer Service, Sustainability, Health & Safety, Innovation and Rising Star.
By introducing the awards, TIMCON aims to highlight best practice and encourage continuous improvement across the sector. The initiative also reflects the industry’s growing focus on operational excellence, environmental responsibility and workforce recognition.
As discussions surrounding the UK-EU SPS Agreement continue, businesses across the timber packaging supply chain will closely monitor future policy decisions. Any reduction in regulatory complexity could improve trading efficiency, strengthen competitiveness and support long-term growth for manufacturers, pallet suppliers and logistics operators throughout the United Kingdom.
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