Guidance

Plant Health News issue 48 - October 2023

Updated 26 September 2024

The Border Target Operating Model has launched

The UK Government has published a new Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), setting out new controls to create a world-class border system. The model has been developed in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments and following extensive engagement with the border industry and businesses across the UK. It incorporates feedback from the draft BTOM which was published in April 2023. 

 
The BTOM continues the phased approach of biosecurity controls to the import regime of plants and plant products. If you import certain plants and plant products from the EU to GB, you need to start preparing for the new plant health import requirements coming into force from January 2024 and April 2024.
 
The TOM risk categories have been published for imports from the EU, and from Rest of World (ROW) goods.
 

Regulated wood, wood products and bark are already categorised as high-risk plant products and must be pre-notified to Forestry Commission inspectors prior to landing and will need to have a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) upon entry.

More information about how to import timber and wood material, including the documents, identity checks and plant health inspections required can be found here.
 
Key dates to be aware of for the continued phased approach of biosecurity controls on high-risk wood, wood products and bark:
 
### From 30 January 2024

Importers of wood, wood products and bark will no longer be able to use the temporary generic waiver code 999L to release consignments held for phytosanitary checks (see further news on new specific waiver codes below).
 
### From 30 April 2024

High-risk plant products must come through a Border Control Post (BCP) or Control Point (CP) where identity and physical checks will be carried out. Checks will no longer take place at designated inland Places of Destination (PoDs).
 
What you need to do if you are a GB importer of wood, wood products and bark:

• familiarise yourself with the new waiver codes below if you import goods that are not subject to specific plant health controls
• if you currently use a POD, find an appropriate BCP and start planning your route for the changes to checking high-risk goods coming into force from 30 April 2024, or
• alternatively, consider becoming CP designated and have your checks done on-site. More information about becoming a CP can be found here

New waiver codes

Importers of goods that are not subject to specific plant health controls have been able to use the temporary CDS entry system waiver code 999L to satisfy certain Tariff measures, where Forestry Commission quarantine checks are not required. Use of 999L in CDS was a temporary arrangement and, with implementation of the Border Target Operating Model, it is appropriate for its use for imports to end.
 
999L will be replaced by new specific waiver codes for import declarations of non-regulated wood, wood products and bark are now available. We encourage importers to make use of the new specific import waiver codes before the 999L waiver code is withdrawn on 30 January 2024. Code 999L will remain available for export declarations until January 2025.

The new codes must only be used when it is appropriate to do so. There are four codes to be used where plant health checks are not required for the specific commodities as listed below:

Code	Declaration and use
991Y	Wood of conifers - Complete the statement “Bark free and qualifying origin”. Using this code constitutes a legal declaration that the wood is bark free and originates from one of the following countries: Andorra, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Faroe Islands, France, United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Ukraine, Kosovo, Serbia
992Y	Non-coniferous wood - Complete the statement “Non-Coniferous Non-regulated”. Use of this code constitutes a legal declaration that the wood is non-coniferous and is a non-regulated species in relation to the country of origin.
993Y	USA and Canada oak barrel exemption - Complete the statement “Heat Treated Barrels”. Use of this code constitutes a legal declaration that the oak barrels originating from USA and Canada are accompanied by a certificate from the manufacturer, stating that they have heat treated to at least 176oC for no less than 20 minutes.
994Y	Exemption for prefabricated buildings constructed from wood - Complete the statement “No logs with natural surface”. Use of this code constitutes a legal declaration that the prefabricated building is not constructed from logs that retain their natural rounded surface, with or without bark.

We will be monitoring the use of these waiver codes over the coming months. Sufficient evidence must be held in records to demonstrate eligibility for these waivers and must be produced on demand.
 
## UK Trade Tariff Tool
The UK Trade Tariff tool uses the CN coding system and can be used to search for the correct code for a specific product and to find out what, if any, non-tariff measures may apply to goods. We have updated the guidance in the tool on the phytosanitary requirements for wood, wood products and bark.
 
Within the Tariff tool the phytosanitary controls that apply to imports of wood, wood products and bark are listed as they apply to all countries, or to named countries of origin. A user can select the 10-digit CN code for a specific commodity and this will identify those countries of origin to which a phytosanitary measure is expected to apply. The measures can apply specifically to a group of named countries or more generically to all countries where multiple measures might apply.
 
For some species-specific commodities it has been possible to show those countries of origin from which phytosanitary measures currently apply. For other commodities, whether the measures apply is dependent on the species and the origin of wood, wood product or bark to be imported.
 
For example, phytosanitary measures apply to wood of ash from all countries. Where this species is specified under the CN headings for sawn ash it is all regulated (CN codes 4407951000, 4407959100 and 4407959900). Alternatively imports of non-coniferous firewood may or may not contain ash (CN 4401229000) therefore this commodity may or may not be regulated dependent on whether it contains ash or another form of regulated wood.
 
The CN classification system does not provide the level of resolution that is necessary to identify all the legislative requirements for wood, wood products and bark. Instead, users can refer to special requirements that are set out under the relevant phytosanitary conditions regulations which are now consolidated (see below).
 
## Phytosanitary Conditions Regulations (PCR)

These regulations specify where phytosanitary measures apply to wood, wood products and bark. There have been several changes made to the PCR since the UK left the EU and these are now incorporated into a consolidated version on Legislation.gov.uk. The measures that must apply on entry to Great Britain are listed under Annex VII Part A in entries 109 to 142 inclusive. For example, the measures that apply to wood and bark of ash can be found at entries 125, 126, 127 and 142. Further measures are expected to be added to those for wood of ash from the USA and Canada in November this year through a further amendment to the PCR.
 
## Rapid Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) on Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle)

A new pest risk analysis (PRA) for Ips typographus (eight-toothed spruce bark beetle) on the UK Plant Health Portal, the details of which can be found here.
 
Comments on the PRA are invited until 22 November 2023 and should be sent to [email protected].

Enquiries

Plant Health
Forestry Commission
Plant Health Forestry
C/O Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian
EH25 9SY

email: [email protected]

Read more Plant Health News issues by the Forestry Commission.