Figure 1. An example of the official QFIC mark for heat-treated lumber
Figure 2. An example of the official ISPM 15 mark for wood packaging
Since the early 1990s, some of main export markets have required that wood products exported from Canada be heat-treated to a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes in order to destroy all pests that could be associated with wood prior to export.
Under the Plant Protection Act and the Plant Protection Regulations, any product exported from Canada must meet the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented a heat-treatment program (HT Program) to allow companies accredited under this program to produce and export heat-treated wood or wood products. This program also fulfills the requirements of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) for wood packaging material in international trade.
Program participants can be wood drying facilities, sawmills, wood packaging producers, prefab or log house manufacturers, brokers, resawn wood product manufacturers, wood product shippers, etc.
Figure 1. An example of the official QFIC mark for heat-treated lumber
Figure 2. An example of the official ISPM 15 mark for wood packaging
The Québec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB) in collaboration with the Québec Forest Industry Council (QFIC/CIFQ) is recognized by the CFIA as a third-party auditor and can offer industry members the certification of their facilities and operations under the HT Program. For softwood lumber, this means applying the official QFIC/CIFQ mark (Figure 1) with the mention of HT. This mark is recognized by Canadian (CLSAB) and American (ALSC) lumber standard accreditation boards. Participation in this program also allows companies to apply the wood packaging mark (Figure 2) and issue heat-treatment certificates.
For further information, please go to the QFIC website by clicking here (in French only).
Click here to complete your application for registration in the TC Program (CFIA site).
To find out which companies are accredited, please visit the following Websites: