5 April 2017
Who does this notice affect?
This notice is of interest to importers of timber and timber products and associated industry participants and retailers.
What is changing?
Following completion of the Import Conditions Review (ICR) of timber and timber products by the Department and consultation with Industry, structural and editorial changes will be made to BICON cases for timber and timber products on 19 April 2017.
Importers that are currently able to meet import conditions for timber and timber products should not be affected by these 19 April 2017, changes.
Users will be able to search for the new and any modified cases using the BICON search function; and will be able to navigate the question and answer structure to get to the correct conditions.
New 'Timber and timber products’ case
Within the Timber and timber products case, two import condition changes include:
- The time allowed between treatment and export for unfinished timber (previously timber and timber mouldings) from all countries will be aligned to 90 days.
- Reconstituted wood products and plywood, veneer sheet and articles have been included on the Highly Processed Wooden Article list (see below), which is a list of items considered to have an acceptably low biosecurity risk. This list also includes manufactured wooden articles smaller than 4mm in height and width. Items that are listed as Highly Processed Wooden Articles only require commercial documentation to clear Biosecurity.
Future changes to documentary requirements for wooden manufactured articles
From 1 September 2017, the department will
- increase the time allowed between treatment and export for Wooden Manufactured Articles from 21 days to 6 months.
- require that Wooden Manufactured Articles to be accompanied by an additional manufacturer's or supplier's declaration stating that the goods were stored so as to prevent risk of re-infestation by pests of concern in between treatment and date of export.
Purpose of the new declaration documents for wooden manufactured articles
Manufacturer or supplier declaration documents will give assurance to the department that manufactured wooden articles are free from the type of pests that are known to infest dry timber-in-service. Infestation of dry timber is common, and Australia remains free from the majority of pest species that can cause significant damage to timber-in-service.
These declaration documents will cover the date between treatment and export, up to a maximum of 6 months.
What the new declaration means
The additional declaration for wooden manufactured articles certifies the manufacturer/supplier has used one or all of the following measures to manage the risk of reinfestation:
- A manufacturing/storage facility that is clean and free of pests, and/or
- A pest management system or process in place that maintains the manufacturing/storage facility to be free of pests, and/or
- A process for dealing with infestations in the manufacturing/storage facility, and/or
- Separate storage facility of treated timber or finished goods to any untreated timber, and/or
- A packaging process that ensures that goods are protected from reinfestation from pests. i.e. boxing/plastic wrapping/immediate sealing in container of products with treated wood after manufacture.
The new declaration
To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, a statement that the goods have been stored after treatment to minimise risk of reinfestation of biosecurity pests and disease will need to be presented on a manufacturer's declaration or supplier’s declaration.
The format of these documents are stipulated in the department’s minimum document requirements (as per any manufacturer’s or supplier’s declaration).
The department is considering whether a statement with standard-words or a free text statement will be preferred and will advise importers in due course.
Further information
For further information and general inquiries about the changes for timber and timber related products please email Imports or phone 1800 900 090.
Highly Processed Wooden Article list
| Product | Product |
|---|---|
| Balsawood articles | Skateboards |
| Blocks and sticks used in wine making | Speakers and sound equipment |
| Book and album covers, wall plaques, trophy stands | Toilet seats |
| Bracelets and items worn as jewellery | Tool and brush/broom handles |
| Clogs | Toothpicks |
| Clothing related - including clothes hangers, shoe stretchers and trees and cedar balls | Toys |
| Commercially made stringed instruments | Weapons |
| Craft related items including knitting needles; quilting hoops; crotchet hooks; buttons, beads and balls | Window dressings including venetian blinds; curtain rods, rings and shutters |
| Display stands and easels | Wine barrels for wine production excluding barrels containing chestnut bark hoops |
| Dowling | Wooden articles less than 4mm in height and width |
| Hairbrushes (excluding brushes containing animal hair) | Wooden cheese boxes |
| Imitation jewellery | Wooden cutlery |
| Knife blocks and chopping boards | Wooden decorative boxes used for bottles of wine and other alcohol |
| Laminated and engineered flooring that is ready for use | Wooden musical instruments (excludes instruments containing bark) |
| MDF items | Wooden nail files |
| Medical instruments | Wooden sticks and decorative boxes used in confectionary\ |
| Mobile phone cases | Veneer articles |
| New sporting goods | |
| Office/school stationary e.g. rulers and clipboards | |
| Pencils and pens (excludes pencils/pens containing bark) | |
| Picture frames including framing for canvases | |
| Plywood and veneer sheets (except when arriving in bulk cargo from New Zealand during BPL season) | |
| Plywood articles | |
| Rattan sticks used in oil/perfume diffusers | |
| Reconstituted wood products | |
| Reeds for musical instruments | |
| Religious items including collection salvers, crosses and offertory bowls | |
| Shelving and other items used in electric appliances (e.g. wine racks) |