The information below will assist in classifying different types of timber, bamboo and related products, and will direct you to the appropriate import conditions in the Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) system. Importers of composite products will need to meet the import conditions for all components.
[expand all]
Artificial plants on natural stems
Common names
Artificial plants, artificial trees, faux plants
Import conditions
BICON case: Artificial plants on natural stems
Description/uses
Artificial foliage or flowers attached to a natural wood stem. The stem may be with or without bark.
Biosecurity risks
The bark on the natural stems can carry insects and/or plant diseases. Natural stems may also be from prohibited plant species like apple or elm trees. In some cases, seeds (including wheat) and pine cones are attached to the stems for decoration.
Balsawood
Common name
Corkwood
Scientific name
Ochroma pyramidale
Import conditions
BICON case: Balsawood
Description/uses
Balsawood is the finished product derived after kiln drying and milling wood from stems of Ochroma pyramidale. It is commonly used for insulation, life-rafts and model making.
Biosecurity risks
Balsawood is a light, processed wood. Balsawood has lower biosecurity risks than other wooden products because its width is usually too thin for borer attacks.
Bamboo products
Common names
Dried bamboo, bamboo laminates, bamboo veneers
Scientific names
Bambusa spp., Dendrocalamus spp., Phyllostchys spp. and related genera
Import conditions
BICON case: Bamboo products
Description/uses
Dried bamboo articles include bamboo fencing, poles, handicrafts, sticks, chimes, chopsticks, baskets, skewers, and other articles that are wholly or partly made of bamboo that has been dried.
Bamboo laminates include highly processed products manufactured from bamboo that have undergone manufacturing processes including shredding or stripping of the bamboo, boiling or steaming, peeling/veneering, kiln drying, followed by moulding/pressing. These can include bamboo flooring, strand woven bamboo board and bamboo kitchenware.
Biosecurity risks
Bamboo articles, if not processed sufficiently may contain boring insects, fungi, and other contaminants that have the potential to introduce exotic pests and diseases to Australia.
Cane and rattan articles
Common names
Cane and rattan products, cane and rattan furniture
Scientific name
Calamus spp. and related genera
Import conditions
BICON case: Cane and rattan articles
Description/uses
Cane and rattan products include cricket bat handles, furniture, kitchenware and mats, as well as bundles of prepared rattan.
If cane or rattan articles contain any bamboo it must be imported as a bamboo product and meet the conditions as stated in the BICON case Bamboo products.
Biosecurity Risks
These products are often manufactured in rural-based cottage industries where there can be a lack of rigorous quality control mechanisms to address biosecurity concerns. Insects can be found in the stems. Bark has a risk of carrying disease and spores.
Chestnut bark hoops
Common names
Chestnut hoops, chestnut rings
Scientific name
Castanea spp.
Import Conditions
BICON case: Oak barrels and chestnut bark hoops
Description/uses
Chestnut hoops are decorative wooden hoops on wine barrels. Wine producers wrap the hoops around oak barrels to minimise physical damage, as a support or as decoration.
Biosecurity risks
Chestnut Blight is a serious disease of chestnuts and presents a significant biosecurity concern. The disease has devastated chestnut forests in North America and Europe.
Cork and cork products
Common names
Cork, granulated cork, processed cork
Scientific name
Quercus suber
Import conditions
BICON case: Cork and cork products
Description/uses
Highly processed products made from the outer bark of the cork oak.
Biosecurity risks
There are minimal biosecurity risks with the commodity itself. There is the potential for larger cork products to become infested with insect pests.
Dried willow and wicker articles
Common names
Wicker furniture, wicker baskets
Scientific name
Salix spp.
Import conditions
BICON case: Dried willow and wicker articles
Description/uses
Includes baskets, fencing, furniture and mats. Articles that also include other material such as wood, rattan, cane or bamboo will need to comply with the conditions for these commodities. Willow is referred to as having the bark still in place, whereas wicker is referred to as slender willow branches without bark.
For sawn Salix timber, please refer to the BICON case Timber and timber mouldings.
Biosecurity risks
As willow contains bark it presents the risk of carrying disease spores and the bark may mask the presence of insects feeding in the cambial layer.
Fencing and screening material derived from plants
Common names
Thatching, fencing, screening, bark fencing, brushwood fencing, china fir, fireweed, burning bush, summer cypress, weeping baeckea, weeping coast myrtle, heather, ling
Scientific name
This includes a number of different products derived from different species:
- Fencing and screening made from branches, including bark: Cunninghamia lanceolata (syn. Belis lanceolata and Pinus lanceolata), Calluna vulgaris
- : Bassia scoparia (syn. Kochia scoparia)
- Fencing and screening made from shrubs: Baeckea frutescens (Myrtaceae family)
- Fencing and screening made from ferns: Coniogramme spp., Dicranopteris spp., Gleichenia spp., Pteridium spp., Pteris spp.
Import conditions
BICON case: Fencing and screening material derived from plants
Description/uses
Parts of shrubs, trees, branches, and bark used to make fencing and screening.
Biosecurity risks
Consignments of dried plant material can contain bark and viable seeds that may be prohibited, restricted or diseased. Dried plant material may also be infested with insects, contaminated with soil or carry fungal spores of biosecurity concern to Australia.
Importation of Myrtaceous timber into Australia poses a risk of introducing exotic pests and diseases, including guava rust or eucalyptus rust.
Grape vine articles
Common name
Grape vine products and decorations
Scientific name
Vitis spp.
Import conditions
BICON case: Grape vine articles
Description/uses
Articles made from the vines of Vitis spp. include Christmas decorations, baskets and other ornaments.
Biosecurity risks
Grape vine may carry exotic plant diseases or insects, and the vine may be propagatable, which increases the risk of entry, spread and establishment of biosecurity risks.
Laminated timber products and articles (including plywood and LVL)
Common names
Plywood, ply products, ply sheeting, LVL
Import conditions
BICON case: Plywood, veneer sheets and articles
Description/uses
Articles made solely from plywood and/or veneer or a combination of plywood, veneer and reconstituted wood.
Plywood sheets are typically made from veneers no more than 5mm thick; complete sheets are usually no more than 35mm thick (i.e. 6-7 veneers bonded together). Includes I-beams, I-joists and flat-pack modular homes. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an assembly of thin timber veneers laminated with adhesive, in which the grain direction of the outer veneers and most of the other veneers is in the longitudinal direction. LVL is often fabricated as beams.
If the product contains any solid wood components it must be imported as a wooden manufactured article and meet the conditions as stated in the BICON case Wooden manufactured articles.
Biosecurity risks
Plywood and LVL is a processed wood product that attracts timber pests when stored in an environment that favours them. Plywood and substrates used for veneers have the capacity to absorb moisture and this may encourage infestation by pests.
Logs, log cabins and oversize timber
Common name
Logs, poles, raw lumber
Import Conditions
BICON case: Logs, log cabins and oversize timber
Description/uses
Logs, log cabins and oversize timber refers to any timber that exceeds 200mm in all dimensions (length, width, depth and all diagonals) which may require further processing or may already be processed into products such as log cabins, statues, totem poles and oversize furniture.
For timber that does not exceed 200mm in all dimensions, and for Myrtaceae timber of all sizes, please refer to the BICON case Timber and timber mouldings.
Timber exceeding 200 mm of the genus Cocos nucifera is prohibited entry into Australia.
Biosecurity risks
Minimal processing increases the risk of infestation with insects and snails, contamination with soil, bark, seeds, plant material and animal residues.
Oak barrels
Common names
Wine barrels, casks, barrels, staves, tanks and vats made from oak
Scientific name
Quercus spp.
Import conditions
BICON case: Oak barrels and chestnut bark hoops
Description/uses
Oak barrels are used in alcohol production.
For the importation of barrels for use as home wares including garden ornaments, please refer to the BICON case Wooden manufactured articles.
Biosecurity risks
Wine barrels can become infested with insect pests such as borers. The manufacturing processes combined with the end use of alcohol production make oak barrels a low risk commodity.
Packing materials and packaging of plants
Common name
Packaging
Import conditions
BICON case: Packing materials and packaging of plants
Description/uses
Material used as packaging around nursery stock. Materials used to pack the goods may include buckwheat hulls, cardboard, charcoal, paper, cork, peat moss and sawdust amongst others.
For timber packaging that is imported as a commodity (is not being used to support goods in international trade), please refer to the BICON case Timber and bamboo packaging.
For packaging for general use that is imported as a non-commodity (supporting goods in international trade), please refer to the BICON case Non-commodity cargo clearance.
Biosecurity risks
Packaging materials such as straw, hay and wood shavings can present a very serious biosecurity risk. These materials may contain insects, soil, viable weed and cereal seeds, plant and animal diseases and other contaminants.
Pine cones
Common name
Conifer pine cones
Scientific name
Pinus spp.
Import Conditions
BICON case: Pine cones
Description/uses
The conical or rounded woody fruit of a pine tree, with scales that open to release the seeds. Pine cones are mainly used in Christmas decorations and floral displays.
Biosecurity risks
There is the risk of pine cones introducing animal diseases, plant diseases, insect pests and viable prohibited and restricted plant seeds.
Plant derived charcoal, wood pellets and briquettes
Common names
Charcoal, coal, wood pellets, fuel wood
Import conditions
BICON case:Plant derived charcoal, wood pellets and briquettes
Description/uses
Charcoal includes timber or other plant residues that have been fully carbonised at high temperatures under low oxygen conditions. Fully carbonised charcoal includes carbonised briquettes and pellets made from compressed wood, charcoal, lump wood charcoal (which is fully carbonised timber, coconut shell, bamboo or any plant derived origin), extruded charcoal and heat beads.
Wood pellets and briquettes are products whereby sawdust, wood powder or charcoal has been extruded, pressed and pelletised into pellets, agglomerated logs or briquettes.
Biosecurity risks
Charcoal that is not fully carbonised may contain bark and other biosecurity risk material such as insects of concern. Wood or agricultural waste that has undergone carbonisation or high level processing (heating, pressing or pelletising under pressure) poses minimal biosecurity risk.
Plant materials embedded in a solid medium
Common name
Plant materials embedded in plastic or resin
Import conditions
BICON case: Plant materials embedded in a solid medium
Description/uses
Includes timber and bamboo articles that have been fully embedded in plastic or a similar material.
Biosecurity risks
Plant materials, including timber and bamboo fully embedded in hard silicone, glass, fibreglass, catalysed hard plastics or similar compounds using heat, moulding or chemical processes pose a low biosecurity risk due to their manufacturing processes.
Reconstituted wood
Common names
Plastic wood. Chipboard, particle board, fibreboard, medium density fibreboard (MDF), high density fibreboard (HDF), oriented strand board (OSB), chipboard, particleboard, laminated strand lumber (LSL)
Import conditions
BICON case: Reconstituted wood products
Description/uses
Products made with wood fibre, plant flour or wood granules (pallwood), containing a minimum of 30 per cent resin, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride or similar. They have no recognisable signs of the raw plant materials used in their manufacture, and have blending, thermal mixing and extrusion steps incorporated into their manufacturing process.
Products made from a combination of reconstituted wood and wood veneer where the veneer is no more than 5mm thick. Includes chipboard, hardboard, medium and high density fibre board (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB), particle board and masonite.
Biosecurity risks
Due to the manufacturing processes these products pose minimal biosecurity risks.
Sawdust or woodchips (including wood flour)
Common names
Sawdust, woodchips, wood cellulose, wood flour, wood shavings, wood fibre, wood wool
Import conditions
BICON case: Sawdust and woodchips
Description/uses
Includes sawdust, wood fibre, shavings, chunks, and chips, wood flour and powder, items containing sawdust such as animal beddings, door snakes or stuffed toys, pieces of wood used in wine making (excluding staves, headboards and barrels), pieces of wood used in aquariums and terrariums, and any other timber by-products.
For the importation of products which have been processed into wood pellets, briquettes or charcoal, please refer to the BICON case Plant derived charcoal, wood pellets and briquettes.
Biosecurity risks
High biosecurity risks are associated with sawdust products such as soil, other plant materials, animal residues or insect concerns that have been mixed or packed with the commodity. Wood chips, chunks or bits constitute the highest risk because they have undergone minimal processing.
Timber and bamboo packaging
Common names
Pallets, crates
Import Conditions
BICON case: Timber and bamboo packaging
Additional information: Timber and bamboo packaging and dunnage webpage
Description/uses
Refers to timber packaging and dunnage imported as a commodity. Includes cases, crates, pallets, packaging made from plywood and veneer, bearers and blocks.
For packaging for general use that is imported as a non-commodity (supporting goods in international trade), please refer to the BICON case Non-commodity cargo clearance.
This does not include decorative boxes that remain with a commodity when sold.
Biosecurity risks
Timber and bamboo packaging and dunnage pose a high risk of introducing timber insects and plant pathogens into Australia. It is often made from lower quality timber that is not suitable for other commercial uses. Timber can have a high component of sapwood which is especially attractive to a wide range of timber pests.
Timber and timber mouldings
Common name
Sawn timber, roundwood, glulam
Import conditions
BICON case: Timber and timber mouldings
Description/uses
Includes lumber that has been rough sawn into a desired size and does not exceed 200mm in each dimension, and timber that is machined into a desired shape and dressed (smooth surface) but is not finished (lacquered or painted), such as solid timber decking, flooring, glue laminated timber (glulam) and roof eaves.
For timber that exceeds 200mm in all dimensions (except Myrtaceae timber), please refer to the BICON case Logs, log cabins and oversize timber.
Biosecurity risks
Sawn timber, roundwood and timber mouldings can become contaminated with mould, fungi, insects and other timber pests through storage on construction and building sites, shipping containers and other environments. These products have the capacity to absorb moisture and this may encourage infestation by pests.
Wisteria articles
Common names
Wisteria products, woven baskets
Scientific name
Wisteria spp.
Import conditions
BICON case: Wisteria articles
Description/uses
Articles that are wholly or partly made of Wisteria, including baskets that are covered by Wisteria binding and bundles of prepared Wisteria.
Biosecurity risks
These products are often manufactured in rural-based cottage industries where there can be a lack of rigorous quality control mechanisms to address biosecurity concerns. Insects can be found in the stems. Bark has a risk of carrying disease and spores.
Wooden manufactured articles
Common names
Wooden products, furniture
Import conditions
BICON case: Wooden manufactured articles
Description/uses
Wooden articles are a finished product and are often lacquered, varnished or painted. Includes products that are new or antique, and are made from solid wood, or a combination of solid wood and plywood or veneer, plastic or metal. This also includes items made by hand from wood, such as art, instruments, pipes, arrows, bowls, weapon handles, shields and spears.
Biosecurity risks
Due to their manufacturing these products are considered low risk. However, they may still contain timber borers, insect pests, bark and other contaminants.