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<p>Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs collect and publish National Statistics for
the United Kingdom on the level of imports of woodfuel under commodity code 44011000:
‘fuel wood in logs, billets, twigs, faggots or similar forms’. No record is made to
differentiate the presence or absence of bark on imports of woodfuel.</p><p> </p><p>Figures
for 2011-15, the latest figures for which complete data is available, are shown the
Table attached.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that wood can be a pathway for the introduction
and movement of harmful plant pests. That is why a new Statutory Notification Scheme
for importing solid woodfuel (firewood) came into force on 1 January 2017. This requires
importers bringing firewood into England and Scotland from outside the UK to provide
the Forestry Commission with at least three days’ prior notification of its arrival
if it is coming by sea, road or rail, and four hours’ notice if arriving by air. The
Welsh Assembly Government is expected to introduce a similar regulation.</p><p> </p><p>The
scheme will enable the Forestry Commission to gather information about the firewood
importing trade, and to carry out risk-based and random inspections of a selection
of imports. This will help to ensure that the firewood or its associated wooden packaging
meets British plant health landing requirements.</p>
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