As the world’s largest timber importer and the biggest exporter of wood products, China relies heavily on timber imports each year to meet strong domestic demand, given the limited availability of small-diameter logs, the narrow range of species grown locally, and the domestic supply-demand gap. So, what exactly is involved in importing timber? This guide provides an overview of key points for you to review.
I. What Is Timber?
Timber is the lignified tissue of secondary-growth plants such as arbor trees and shrubs, used in either raw or semi-processed form. Throughout the course of human development, timber has been inextricably linked to everyday life and has contributed immense value to social progress and civilization. It is widely used in infrastructure, construction, and furniture manufacturing, among other fields, and appears in various forms including logs, rough timber, sawn wood, raw wood materials, veneer, particleboard, fiberboard, plywood, wood pulp, paper, and paper products.
In the narrow sense, timber refers specifically to the wood derived from the trunks of arbor trees. Broadly speaking, it refers to all wooden materials, encompassing not only unprocessed products collected from forestry like logs and rough timber but also mechanically processed products such as sawn wood, plywood, particle board, and fiberboard.
II. Quarantine Requirements for Imported Timber
(I) Imported timber must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the official plant quarantine authority of the country or region of origin/export. Shipments without such documentation will be denied entry. The phytosanitary certificate must confirm the absence of quarantine pests prohibited by the Chinese government, pests that could threaten forests, the environment, or tourism resources within the country, and any pests or soil specified in bilateral phytosanitary agreements.
(II) Timber imported with bark must undergo effective phytosanitary treatment, applying measures recognized and approved by China, in the exporting country or region. The phytosanitary certificate must specify the phytosanitary treatment method, chemical agents, dosage, duration, and temperature. If the timber is bark-free and has not undergone any phytosanitary treatment, a statement to this effect must be included in the phytosanitary certificate.
(III) Pine logs and sawn wood from Canada, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Portugal, Spain, and Mexico must enter the nation through designated ports.
(IV) Pursuant to bilateral agreements signed with China, logs with bark from Russia, British Columbia from Canada, and Alaska from the U.S. that have not undergone phytosanitary treatment abroad must enter through ports equipped with Class A designated supervision areas for imported logs.
(V) The import of ash logs from countries and regions where ash dieback is present should be prohibited. However, ash lumber and wood products that have undergone prolonged high-temperature processing are permitted to be imported.
III. Declaration & Quarantine Inspection of Imported Timber
(I) Required Documents for Import Customs Declaration
Contracts, invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, a phytosanitary certificate issued by the official quarantine authority of the exporting country or region, and a certificate of origin (exempted for Russian timber entering via land ports).
For timber species listed in the Commodity Catalog of Import and Export Wild Fauna and Flora that are subject to trade controls, an “CITES Permit for Import/Export” issued by the Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office of the People's Republic of China must also be provided.
(II) Inspection Steps - What Customs Checks
1. Verify that the quantity, quarantine treatment details, and any additional statements on the phytosanitary certificate meet China’s quarantine requirements for imported timber.
2. Confirm that the actual goods match the declared documentation in terms of species, quantity, and specifications.
3. Inspect the means of transport or containers for any residual material, soil, or pests originating from previous cargoes or voyages.
4. Check whether the timber carries bark and if the amount exceeds permissible limits.
5. Look for signs of infestation - such as holes, blue stain, boreholes, or frass - on wood surfaces, cross-sections, or under bark, and check for pests in any life stage, including live insects, pupae, cocoons, or fungal growth.
6. If wood packaging or dunnage is used, it must be inspected together with the imported timber.
7. Screen for any concealed or mixed undeclared timber or other materials within the consignment.
(III) Quarantine Evaluation & Treatment Measures
1. If logs declared as “bark-free” are found to have bark, an Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice or phytosanitary certificate will be issued, and the shipment will be refused entry.
2. If logs declared as “bark-free” are confirmed as such and no live forest pests is detected, the logs will be cleared for entry. However, if live quarantine pests or pests posing a quarantine risk are detected and an effective treatment method is available, an Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice shall be issued. The batch of logs must undergo phytosanitary treatment and is permitted entry only after meeting quarantine standards. Finally, if live forest pests are detected during inspection and no effective phytosanitary treatment is available, an Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice shall be issued, requiring the shipment to be re-exported or destroyed. A phytosanitary certificate shall be provided if a claim is to be filed.
3. For other timber products, if no live forest pests are detected, the shipment is cleared for entry. However, if live quarantine pests or pests posing a quarantine risk are found, and an effective phytosanitary treatment is available, an Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice shall be issued. The timber must undergo phytosanitary treatment and is permitted entry only after meeting the required standards. Finally, if live forest pests are detected and no effective phytosanitary treatment is available, an Inspection and Quarantine Treatment Notice shall be issued, requiring the shipment to be re-exported or destroyed under Customs supervision. A phytosanitary certificate shall be issued for claim purposes after the disposal is completed.
IV. Customs Reminder
(I) When importing containers carrying multiple timber species, segregate different species by container and avoid mixing them in the same unit. Ensure clear and legible shipping marks are applied to each and every piece of cargo, and avoid overloading containers.
(II) Urge suppliers to reinforce safety measures during loading and transport to prevent logs from rolling or sliding, reducing the risk of workplace or transit accidents.
(III) Secure foreign-issued phytosanitary certificates, certificates of origin, and CITES permits well in advance. These should be transmitted directly to the domestic importer for Customs declaration,to avoid sending documents through banking channels and prevent clearance delays.
(IV)Keep abreast of China’s latest timber trade regulations, including any restrictions on timber import concerning origin countries or tree species, to avoid unnecessary economic losses.
(V) If wood packaging or dunnage is used on the imported timber, the exporter must be required to have it treated and marked in full compliance with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), namely the Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packing Material in International Trade, with the official mark of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) clearly applied.(by an author from Tianjin Customs)
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