Permanent preservative treatment certificates

Notice to Industry 37/2010

Who is affected by this notice?

This notice is of interest to offshore treatment providers, importers and custom brokers.

Background

Since the phase out of methyl bromide use for quarantine purposes in the European Union, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has noticed an increase in the number of unacceptable permanent preservative treatment certificates for timber consignments arriving in Australia, especially for manufactured wooden articles. These certificates are unacceptable because the method of application of the permanent preservation treatment is not consistent with Australian requirements.

A permanent preservative treatment certificate for timber is only acceptable if the timber has been treated inside a pressurised chamber with a timber preservative that is registered in the country of treatment for that use and is acceptable to AQIS. A permanent preservative treatment must penetrate at least all the sapwood in the timber. Some chemicals such as Xylosan forte are not considered permanent preservatives for timber or timber packaging and dunnage if they have been applied as an insecticidal spray or surface treatment.

What will change?

AQIS will only accept permanent preservation treatment certificates for manufactured wooden articles, sawn timber and timber mouldings if such treatments are performed in accordance with AQIS requirements. The permanent preservation treatment certificate will be amended to include an additional declaration to provide AQIS with this assurance. AQIS will provide further advice on the additional declaration requirements in a separate industry notice. In the interim, AQIS may require further documentation such as the permanent preservation treatment application details from the importer if there are concerns that the treatment has not been carried out to Australia’s standards.
Importers currently utilising permanent preservation as a timber treatment are urged to contact their suppliers and treatment providers to ensure preservation treatment is being performed in accordance with AQIS requirements.

Further information

For further information please visit the AQIS websites below:

• Approved treatments for timber including Permanent preservation treatment
• Permanent preservative penetration information
• AQIS requirements for compliance to Australian Standard AS 1604.

If you require further information or assistance please contact the Timber and Timber Products National Co-ordination Centre on telephone, 03 8318 6929, by fax on 03 8318 6777 or via email.