Since 1st of April 2013 all EU member states have to check specific consignments transported with high risk wood packaging material from China to a given minimum frequency according EU-implementing decision  2013 / 92  which has been extended till 31st of July 2018. This EU implementing decision is implemented in Austria by the competent authority for phytosanitary import inspection of wood: Federal Forest Office (BFW).

The import inspections concerns regulated consignments with the customs codes (CN Codes: 2514, 2515, 2516, 6801, 6802, 6803, 6907 and 7210 with a minimum physical inspection frequency of 15%), provided that these goods were transported with solid wood packaging material such as palettes, boxes or crates.

The wood packaging material of hardwood or coniferous wood has to comply with the requirements of the ISPM 15 standard of the IPPC which means that the wood must be treated and marked.

Link for consolidated version of implementing decision 2013/92/EU:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02013D0092-20170425&qid=1516716928428&from=EN

In Austria the import-inspection of the regulated wood packaging material happens before customs clearance.

Without a phytosanitary release no customs clearance can be taken.

For more information please contact verpackungsholz@bfw.gv.at