Some countries require phytosanitary measures for veneer imports. Before you can export veneer to these countries, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) must certify it. The agency negotiates the certification requirements with the importing country. Export is then authorized for producers and exporters under the appropriate program based on the negotiated requirements. Negotiated requirements often include:
- protocols for treating wood for pests of interest
- record keeping
- article inspection by the CFIA
Export requirements for Canadian maple (Acer spp.) veneer to the European Union
To be eligible for the export program of maple veneer of the following species to the European Union (EU), producers/exporters must register by submitting a service request through their My CFIA account:
- Acer saccharum
- Acer macrophyllum
- Acer buergerianum
- Acer negundo
- Acer palmatum
- Acer paxii
- Acer pseudoplatanus
The producers/exporters must complete the registration under the Hardwood Export Program and may designate a program manager to implement the requirements. A confirmation of registration will be issued through the My CFIA account following approval with an assigned registration number. Before registration, the CFIA will conduct an on‑site audit to verify that the requirements are being met.
My CFIA uses the term "preventive control inspection" in place of "audit", and 'terms and conditions" in place of "requirements".
The requirements to EU member countries for this article include (but are not limited to):
Pest monitoring and control
- the logs must be visually inspected to detect the presence of pests of interest
- the logs must be heat treated (in a water bath for at least 20 minutes up to a core temperature of 50°C)
- the bark and cambium must be completely removed from the logs
- he logs have been cut into veneer sheets of a thickness of 6 mm or less
- veneer sheets should be heat dried to reduce the moisture content to 12% or less
Records
- registered producers/exporters must complete and maintain records of the quantity of wood exported and pest monitoring records for each lot
- records must include traceability of the product through heat treatment and drying
- records must be made available to the CFIA upon request and must be kept for a minimum of two years
CFIA inspection
- the CFIA will systematically supervise the heat treatment and drying procedure at the production site
Export certification
- producers/exporters must submit
- the Application for Export Inspection and Phytosanitary Certification (CFIA/ACIA 3369) to apply for a Phytosanitary Certificate
- one form per lot to be certified
- if any of the export conditions are not met, the articles will not be certified
Contact your local CFIA office to verify current export requirements, as these may be subject to change.
For the complete text of the EU regulation visit: Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2025/659 of 3 April 2025