CFIA Notice on export certification of Ash wood to E.U.

The European Union’s (E.U) derogation allowing export certification of Ash wood to the E.U. Based on Pest Free Areas of Emerald Ash Borer and squaring of the wood is expiring on December 31, 2015.

The derogation (2014/924/EU) enacted by the European Union (E.U.) on December 16, 2014, for ash wood from Canada and the United States will be expiring on December 31, 2015.  This derogation allowed the export certification based upon pest free areas identified by Canada or wood from regulated areas being squared so as to remove any round wood.

All shipments arriving on or after January 1st, 2016, must be certified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in accordance with EU Council Directive 2000/29/EC. This directive requires:

Ash logs, lumber and wood chips:

1. Wood and wood chips must originate from areas free of Agrilus plannipenis based upon E.U. approval of technical and regulatory information supplied by the exporting country. The E.U has not indicated if Canada’s regulatory procedures for determining pest free area is acceptable and as such, CFIA cannot certify on this basis; or
2. Wood processed in a manner that removes all bark and 2.5 cm of sapwood is acceptable for export certification;

The CFIA is continuing to negotiate with the E.U. to seek recognition of Canada's pest free areas on a long term basis and the recognition of a certification option that is based upon current Canadian wood production practices.