1.         Overview
AQIS approved non-permanent treatments will kill insects present in the timber at the time of treatment but give no protection against re-infestation.

Timber treated with non-permanent treatments must be packed in a container or shipped within 21 days of that treatment.  The only exceptions to this timeframe are where all timber packing:

• is marked with ISPM 15 compliant stamps, or
• has been treated in accordance with ISPM 15 and accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary certificate, or
• has been treated in New Zealand.

 The timeframe between treatment and containerisation or shipment in New Zealand is 3 months.  A timeframe between treatment and containerisation does not apply to consignments where all timber packing is marked with ISPM 15 compliant stamps or all timber packing has been treated in accordance with ISPM 15 and accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary certificate.

Whereas fumigation treatments may be performed after the goods have been containerised, heat treatments must be performed prior to containerisation.

The AQIS approved timber heat treatments are: kiln drying for quarantine purposes (ICON Treatment T9912), heat treatment at a minimum of 56°C for 30 minutes as measured at the core of the wood (ICON Treatment T9968) and heat treatment of timber packing in accordance with ISPM 15. Whilst the time-temperature schedule for the T9968 heat treatment is the same as the time-temperature schedule for the heat treatment specified in ISPM 15, AQIS requirements for validating each of these heat treatments are different and detailed overleaf.

Timber packing that is free of bark and has been kiln dried (T9912), heat treated (T9968) or heat treated in accordance with ISPM 15 is considered to be effectively treated for Australian quarantine pests, except where AQIS has identified a specific quarantine concern.

Goods will remain subject to random surveillance for the purposes of validation and compliance.

An AQIS import permit is required to import untreated timber where all dimensions are greater than 200mm.

Kiln drying (T9912) for quarantine purposes has a long history of commercial usage and is known to be an effective treatment for insect, fungal and nematode timber pests.  In recognition of its long history of commercial use and standard kiln operating procedures, treatment certificates from all commercial treatment providers are acceptable to AQIS as validation of this treatment.

Whilst some uncertainties remain about the effectiveness of heat treatment to a core temperature of 56°C for 30 minutes (T9968), research underpinning the development of ISPM 15 has demonstrated that this time-temperature schedule is effective for a large number of insect timber pests present at the time of treatment. Given that this treatment has only been approved recently for quarantine purposes and can be delivered upon by any heat application method, not necessarily involving standard kiln operating procedures, AQIS will only accept this treatment if independently validated by the government of the exporting country. Acceptable forms of validation for the T9968 treatment are treatment certificates from treatment providers operating under a government authorised accreditation program that AQIS has reviewed and found to be equivalent to ISPM 15 certification systems or official government phytosanitary certificates (Section 3 provides further details on this treatment).

Where timber packing has been heat treated in accordance with ISPM 15, AQIS only accepts this treatment if the timber packing is either marked with ISPM 15 compliant stamps or accompanied by an official government phytosanitary certificate.

AQIS may grant quarantine clearance of timber packing and dunnage in containerised cargo without inspection on the basis of documentation. To be eligible for documentary based quarantine clearance, every consignment must be accompanied by an acceptable packing declaration. Appendix VII includes an example template for a packing declaration. Where a packing declaration declares that timber has been used in a consignment and the timber is free of bark and there are no other quarantine concerns, AQIS requires acceptable documentation to accompany the consignment as validation that all timber packing in the consignment meets AQIS treatment requirements. AQIS accepts the following types of documentation as validation of offshore treatments:

• If all timber packing is marked in accordance with ISPM 15, AQIS accepts:

-     a packing declaration from a packer/supplier declaring all timber packing is marked with ISPM 15 compliant stamps, or
-     an official government Phytosanitary certificate certifying "all timber packing is marked in accordance with ISPM 15".

• If all timber packing has been treated in accordance with ISPM 15 but the packing is not marked in accordance with ISPM 15, AQIS only accepts official government Phytosanitary certificates certifying "all timber packing has been treated in accordance with ISPM 15" as validation for this treatment.
• For the non-ISPM 15 treatments (T9968 and T9912), AQIS accepts the following:

-     Official government Phytosanitary certificates provided they include details of the treatment (accepted for both T9912 and T9968). As Phytosanitary certificates are required to include a unique certificate identification number, AQIS does not require Phytosanitary certificates to include details of treatment providers and/or programs under which the treatment providers are accredited.
-     Treatment certificates issued by treatment providers accredited under an AQIS recognised government program or its equivalent (accepted for both T9912 and T9968).
-     Treatment certificates otherwise endorsed by a government certificate or its equivalent (accepted for T9912 only).
-     Treatment certificates issued by commercial heat treatment providers (accepted for T9912 only).

All treatment certificates must state the duration of the treatment, the treatment temperature and in the case of kiln drying for quarantine purposes (T9912), the certificate must state the maximum thickness of the timber. Treatment certificates from treatment providers accredited under an AQIS recognised government program or its equivalent must also include the name of the program under which the treatment provider is accredited and the facility registration number or treatment provider number issued under that program. Appendix VII includes example templates for heat treatment certificates and kiln drying certificates.

2.         Kiln drying (T9912) for quarantine purposes

AQIS has a number of general requirements for kiln drying treatments that are applied for quarantine purposes.  These are:

• Dry bulb temperature in the chamber is maintained at or above 74°C (165°F) and the wet bulb depression (the maximum decrease allowed between the dry and wet bulb temperatures) is less than 2°C (3.6°F),
• Treatment time does not commence until the temperature and humidity in the chamber have stabilised and the core temperature of the timber has reached at least 74°C (165°F),
• All timber must have an average moisture content of less than 12%, based on oven-dry weight or mass, and
• The duration of the treatment will depend on the thickness of the timber (see Table 1 below). "Thickness" is defined here as the distance between spacers in the stack, regardless of the thickness of individual boards.

Table 1: Kiln drying treatment durations for timber of different thicknesses

(1) If the thickness of the timber is not stated on the treatment certificate or is unknown, a verification inspection at an appropriate AQIS Quarantine Approved Premise is required to ensure that the timber has at least one dimension less than or equal to 200mm [see (2) below], and to verify that the treatment has been effective.
(2) Where all dimensions of the timber are greater than 200mm, AQIS requires an import permit application to be lodged for the timber.  The permit conditions will mandate a treatment duration that exceeds 18 hours once the timber core temperature of 74°C has been achieved.

3.         Heat treatment: 56°C for 30 minutes (T9968)

• Treatment certificates

AQIS accepts any heat treatment that ensures the core temperature of the wood has reached a minimum of 56°C for 30 minutes (T9968).  This treatment is only acceptable to AQIS if validated by a treatment certificate issued by a treatment provider accredited under an AQIS recognised government program or its equivalent, or an official government phytosanitary certificate.
A treatment certificate from a treatment provider accredited under an AQIS recognized government program or its equivalent must include the following details:

• The name of the program under which the treatment provider is accredited; and
• The facility registration number or treatment provider number issued under that program; and
• The duration of the treatment; and
• The treatment temperature as measured at the core of the wood. To be acceptable to AQIS, certificates must include wording to this effect. For example, in addition to the treatment temperature, a statement such as 'The temperature was held for the duration at the core of the wood' would be acceptable to AQIS.

Official government Phytosanitary certificates do not need to include details of treatment providers and/or programs under which the treatment providers are accredited but must include details of the treatment as follows:

• The duration of the treatment; and
• The treatment temperature as measured at the core of the wood. To be acceptable to AQIS, certificates must include wording to this effect. For example, in addition to the treatment temperature, a statement such as 'The temperature was held for the duration at the core of the wood' would be acceptable to AQIS.

3.2       Overview of AQIS requirements for approval of onshore and offshore heat treatment providers for heat treatment 56°C for 30 minutes (T9968)

Heat treatment providers must be able to demonstrate that their facilities can consistently deliver treatments to a core temperature of 56°C for 30 minutes across various species of timber.  To demonstrate this, a treatment provider's chambers must initially undergo empirical testing overseen by an appropriate independent standards authority.  This empirical testing must be undertaken for both hardwood (greater than 550kg/m3) and softwood (less than 550kg/m3).  Note: Poplar wood (Populus species) shall be regarded as softwood.  The UK Forestry Commission Plant Health Service Information Note 1 (revised June 2003) provides an example of a verification process for heat treatment.  After the independent assessing body has approved the heat treatment chamber, the treatment provider should develop operating and reporting guidelines for the treatment.  These should be reviewed and accepted by the independent assessor or standards authority.

The heat treatment provider is also required to undergo regular auditing or quality assurance validation overseen by a government recognised independent standards authority.  This information is required for auditing by an independent auditor/assessor to verify the performance of the chamber over time, and to look for variance in treatments delivered.  A full audit of records and facilities should occur no less than every 12 months and be performed by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), an independent standards agency authorised by the NPPO or an AQIS recognised agency.

The independent standards agency that oversees empirical testing must be:

• The relevant government body authorised under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC); or
• A private agency/technical laboratory approved by the IPPC authorised government body to accredit treatment providers on its behalf.

3.3       Non-acceptance by AQIS of heat treatment providers for T9968

Entomologists and/or plant pathologists identify the specimen/s collected from AQIS interceptions of timber pests and/or diseases on timber or wood packaging material.  AQIS inspectors are required to initiate Interception Reports and attach all relevant information such as commercial documents, heat treatment certification or a copy of the treatment mark as per ISPM15, and any other documents relating to the interception (e.g. Order into Quarantine, bill of lading, investigation notes, etc).

In addition to identifying the timber pest or disease, AQIS requires the entomologist/plant pathologist to confirm whether or not the timber pest or disease was present in the timber or wood packaging material prior to the application of the heat treatment.

AQIS will consider a timber heat treatment provider unacceptable, only if all of the following apply:

• The timber or wood packaging material contains live timber pest/s and/or disease/s.
• The timber pest/disease is identified and a statement provided by an entomologist/plant pathologist that the timber pest/disease was present in the timber or wood packaging material prior to the application of the heat treatment.
• The timber or wood packaging material is covered by a heat treatment certificate or has a treatment mark (as per ISPM15) from the treatment provider.

Where a timber pest and/or disease has been determined to be present in the timber or wood packaging material prior to treatment, AQIS will advise the heat treatment provider and NPPO of incidents.  AQIS will provide a copy of the Interception Report, scientific findings and relevant paperwork.  The heat treatment provider and NPPO will be requested to provide an acceptable response within 6 weeks.  At the same time AQIS may take the following action:

• In the first instance of a failed heat treatment, the heat treatment provider will be placed on the Unacceptable Heat Treatment Providers List for 3 months and will be removed from that list, if the treatment provider and NPPO can advise AQIS that the issue(s) resulting in the treatment failure has been addressed.
• In the second instance of a failed heat treatment, the heat treatment provider will be placed on the Unacceptable Heat Treatment Providers List for 6 months and will be removed from that list, if the treatment provider and NPPO can advise AQIS that the issue(s) resulting in the treatment failure has been addressed.
• In the third instance of a failed heat treatment, the heat treatment provider will be placed on the Unacceptable Heat Treatment Providers List for 12 months and will be removed from that list, if the heat treatment provider and NPPO can advise AQIS that the issue(s) resulting in the treatment failure has been addressed.
• Any further treatment failures will result in the heat treatment provider being placed on the Unacceptable Heat Treatment Providers List indefinitely.

3.4       AQIS approved heat treatment providers and acceptable treatment certificates for T9968

AQIS recognised treatment providers for timber heat treatment at a minimum of 56 degrees for 30 minutes as measured at the core of the wood (T9968) that do not require validation of the heat treatment by an official Phytosanitary certificate are:

• Canada

Treatment providers accredited under:
1. The Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program (CHTWPCP) as listed at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/for/cwpc/chtwpcpce.shtml
OR
2. The Canadian Wood Packaging Certification Program (CWPCP) as listed at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/for/cwpc/appe.shtml
OR

• The Canadian Lumber Export Certification Program as listed at:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/for/cwpc/kdhte.shtml

• United Kingdom

United Kingdom companies accredited under the United Kingdom Wood Marking Program that is administered by the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (timcon).  A list of accredited treatment providers is available at the timcon web site: www.timcon.org.

• USA

AQIS accepts timber treated at 56 degrees for 30 minutes measured at the core by providers in the USA that are accredited under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorised American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) heat treatment programs for lumber and wood packaging material.  The approval will be valid until 1 December 2004.  In the interim, AQIS will complete a review of ALSC heat treatment programs to determine if they are able to meet AQIS requirements in the longer term.  Details of accredited agencies are available from the ALSC website at www.alsc.org.

• The Netherlands

Companies registered under the Netherlands Wood Packaging Marking Programme (developed by the Netherlands Plant Protection Service).  The Netherlands Plant Protection Service has assigned administration of the Programme to The Foundation for Marking Wood Packaging Materials (Stichting Markering Houten Verpakkingen, SMHV).  A list of registered companies (in Dutch only) is available at: http://www.smhv.nl/.
Note: Select 'Geregistreerde bedrijven' then select 'Registratie nr' to view the company details and registration numbers.

• France

Companies registered under the 'Programme for the Phytosanitary Conformity of Wood Packaging for Export Use' (developed by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Rural Affairs).  The Programme is administered regionally through the Regional Directorates of Agriculture and Forests / Regional Plant Protection Departments (DRAF/SRVP).  The relevant DRAF/SPRV for each region in France issues Registration Numbers to approved companies.  Note: An internet site listing details of registered companies is unavailable.  Treatment certificates that include the name of the AQIS recognised programme, the registration number assigned to the facility under the programme and the appropriate treatment details are acceptable to AQIS.

3.5       References and further reading

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) (2002): Quarantine Approved Premises Criteria, Quarantine Treatment Facilities: Class 4.1 Heat treatment facilities.

International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures Publication No. 15: Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade (ISPM 15),Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Rome, 2002. Available from the IPPC website at www.ippc.int.

UK Forestry Commission Plant Health Service Information Note 1 (revised June 2003): Verification of heat treatment facilities and authorisation of the use of the DB-HT mark to comply with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures ISPM 15.  Available from the UK Forestry Commission website at: www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth.