Import and notification of wood packaging material

Imports of wood packaging material are subject to international phytosanitary standards (ISPM 15). Wood packaging material may only be used for the transport of goods to the EU if the material meets the requirements of the ISPM 15 for treatment and markings. More information about the import requirements of wood packaging material is available on the Finnish Food Authority’s website. (in Finnish and Swedish)

Requirements and markings of the ISPM 15

The wood packaging material in accordance with the standard must meet the following requirements:

  • It has been treated in one or several approved ways.
  • It meets the requirements of Annex 1 of the ISPM 15 (for example, debarked wood was used).
  • The packaging has a mark in accordance with Annex 2 of the IPSM 15. It is used to verify that the material has been treated in one or more ways that are acceptable and specified in the standard.

If wood packaging material has been used for packing the arriving goods, confirm with the seller that only packaging with the ISPM 15 marking has been used.

The ISPM 15 requirements do not apply to wood-based industrially manufactured materials such as plywood, particleboard, fibreboard, or wood pieces smaller than 6 mm.

Read more about the requirements of ISPM 15 on the Finnish Food Authority’s website. (in Finnish and Swedish)

Import controls of wood packaging material

In conjunction with a normal customs control of goods, the packaging material used for packing is checked. If wood packaging material has been used, Customs checks whether the required ISPM 15 markings are present on the packaging material.

In addition, wood packaging material is subject to targeted and intensified import control. The consignments are subject to intensified control, for example, in the following situations:

  • The goods are part of the Finnish Food Authority’s control plan.
  • The consignment arrives from China, Belarus or India and contains goods with a certain commodity code, and they were packaged using wood packaging material.

On the Finnish Food Authority's website, you can read information about the pine wood nematode, a plant pest that lives in wooden packaging. (in Finnish)

You can read more about the import control of packaging material in Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/2031.

Control in accordance with the Food Authority’s control plan

Import control of wood packaging material has been increased in the EU because of the plant health risk associated with its importation. The Food Authority can steer the consignment containing wood packaging material for control, even if the wood packaging material has markings in accordance with IPSM 15.

The Food Authority prepares an annual control plan. Selection for control is based on the country of origin of the consignment and the commodity code of the goods.

Speed up the processing of your customs declaration by providing information about the packaging material of products included in the control plan. However, no notification to the TRACES system is required for consignments covered by the control plan.

Read more: The control plan and additional information about controls (Food Authority) (in Finnish and Swedish)

You can speed up the processing of your customs declaration by including information in advance about the packaging material used.

If the commodity code and the country of origin of the goods is included in the Food Authority’s control plan, provide the following information in the customs declaration:

  • additional information code FIXXX
  • description of the additional information, either “the consignment contains wood packaging material” or “the consignment does not contain wood packaging material”

If your consignment is selected for control, you will be informed of this in the movement permit granted by Customs. The movement permit includes other additional information required and instructions about the control.

Intensified import control of wood packaging material from China, Belarus and India

Wood packaging material arriving from China, Belarus and India is subject to intensified import control. The control is aimed at certain commodity codes, where the plant health risk upon import is heightened, that is, when the packaging material used for the transport packages is made of wood.

Check the commodity codes that are subject to control in Appendix I of Commission Regulation 2024/288.

For such consignments, a notification must be submitted to the TRACES system before importation. The import is permitted only via certain border crossing points.

The control is based on Commission Regulation 2021/127. The period of validity of the original Regulation 2021/127 has expired, but import control has been extended based on the new Regulation 2024/288.

The wood packaging material of the consignment is subject to intensified import control, if:

  • The country of origin is China, Belarus or India.
  • The consignment contains wood packaging material,
    • which is presented to Customs without a transport-load or
    • which has been used to transport or package goods listed in Annex I of Regulation 2024/288
  • The wood packaging material in the consignment is material in accordance with ISPM 15 (e.g. wooden pallets, boxes, platforms, frames, and supports).
    • Note that, for example, plywood or particleboard is not subject to intensified control, as it is not covered by the ISPM 15.

The following commodity codes are listed in Annex I of Regulation 2024/288:

  • 2514 Slate, whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise into blocks or slabs
  • 2515 Marble, travertine, ecaussine and other calcareous monumental or building stone
  • 2516 Granite, porphyry, basalt, sandstone and other monumental or building stone whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise
  • 4401 Fuel wood, in logs, billets, twigs, in faggots or similar forms
  • 4415 Wood packaging material
  • 6801 Setts, curbstones and flagstones, of natural stone
  • 6802 Worked monumental or building stone
  • 6803 Worked slate and articles of slate
  • 6907 Ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles
  • 7606 Aluminium plates, sheets and strip

When the wood packaging material arriving from China, Belarus and India is subject to intensified import control, do this:

  • Before import, submit a notification that is, a CHED-PP, to the TRACES system.
  • Import the goods via an approved border crossing point.
  • Provide the required additional information in the customs declaration.

Submit a notification to the TRACES system

The importer must submit a notification in the TRACES system, that is, a CHED-PP for each consignment subject to import control. However, a notification to the TRACES system is not required if the consignment does not contain wood packaging material.

Read more: Plant health entry document CHED-PP to the TRACES system - instructions for the importer (Finnish Food Authority) (in Finnish)

The import is permitted only via certain border crossing points.

When an import notification must be submitted in the TRACES system, import is only permitted via certain border crossing points. Approved border crossing points are for example:

  • Ports
    • Eckerö, Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki-Vuosaari, Inkoo, Kalajoki-Rahja, Kaskinen, Kemi, Kokkola, Kotka-Hietanen, Kotka-Mussalo, Kotka-Halla, Loviisa, Långnäs, Merikarvia, Porvoo-Tolkkinen, Oulu, Pietarsaari, Pori, Raahe, Rauma, Turku ja Uusikaupunki
  • Crossing points at the land border
    • Karigasniemi and Vainikkala
  • Airports
    • Helsinki-Vantaa

Check all the approved border crossing points for wood packaging material on the Finnish Food Authority’s website. (in Finnish and Swedish)

Provide the required additional information in the customs declaration

The additional information provided in the declaration is only required when you are importing goods subject to import controls, as listed in the regulation, from China, India or Belarus. 

  • Always enter additional information code FIXXX in the goods item details of the customs declaration. Provide as description either alternative:

    • “The consignment contains wood packaging material”
    • “The consignment does not contain wood packaging material”
  • If the consignment contains wood packaging material subject to import control, provide the information of your declaration in advance to the TRACES system:
    • Enter additional information code C085. Enter as code description the reference number of the CHED-PP, which has been generated in section I.2 of the CHED.
    • In addition, enter the line item number of the imported goods, which is in section I31 of the CHED
      • In the Customs Clearance Service, the information is entered under “Additional information about attachment.”
      • In message declaration, the information is entered under “Document line item number.”

If the consignment arriving from China, Belarus and India is subject to intensified import control of wood packaging material, it can be selected for a physical control.

A control of the consignment may be ordered even if the consignment does not contain wood packaging material based on the customs declaration. A control is carried out on 15 per cent of arriving consignments.

Proceed as follows

Once you have received notification of the control referral, arrange the control with the regional plant inspector. The controls are carried out by inspectors at the Finnish Food Authority or the Centre for economic development, transport and the environment (ELY Centre).

  • If you have requested that the control be carried out at the destination, the company must have an approved other control point (CP).
    • You receive a permit to move the consignment to the control point.
    • The other goods in the consignment can be released for free circulation, if the wood packaging material in the consignment is standing by for a control. In that case, the declaration must be split. Read more about splitting a customs declaration.
    • When the Food administration has approved the wood packaging material for import, update the customs declaration with the new reference number received for the CHED.
  • If the control of the consignment is carried out at an approved border control post (BCP), the goods in the consignment are subject to prohibition of use, until the decision on release has been issued. The food Authority approves the import of the consignment after the control by ‘validating’ the CHED-PP. After this, the goods in the consignment can be released for free circulation.

Read more about how to provide a CHED in a customs declaration.

Read more about the intensified import control on the Finnish Food Authority’s website. (in Finnish and Swedish)

Concerning controls, you can contact the Food authority by email (kasvinterveys@ruokavirasto.fi).

Updated: