Impact of the 2025 EU–UK Agreement on Heat-Treated Timber

The 2025 UK/EU trade agreement, which outlines plans to establish a Common Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Area, is intended to decrease trade barriers for agri-food goods, streamline administrative procedures, and improve the flow of goods across borders, particularly between Great Britain, the EU and Northern Ireland.

Key Impacts:

• Reduction in Border Checks for Agri-Food Products: Routine phytosanitary checks and certificates for plants and plant products are proposed to be removed, reducing delays and administrative burdens at the border.
• Smoother Trade Flow: These changes aim to improve logistics and minimise disruption for goods moving between Great Britain, the EU, and Northern Ireland.
• Simplified Processes: Compliance pressures on businesses will be eased as the agreement aims to streamline procedures for many agri-food goods.

However, the agreement does not remove border checks on wood packaging material (WPM) and has not commented on what this means for Heat-Treated Timber ISPM15 standards.

As a result, the current rules governing the movement of WPM to and from the EU still apply. This means that all WPM, including pallets and crates, must continue to be ISPM15-compliant, heat-treated or fumigated and marked appropriately, when moving between Great Britain and the EU.