Heat treatment evaluators must have the capacity to assess the capability of kilns and heat treatment chambers and other heat treatment equipment to achieve heat treatment as described in Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) directives, quality management standards and technical documents.
On this page
- Heat treatment process
- How to apply to be a recognized heat treatment evaluator
- Annual reports and heat treatment schedules
- Oversight of heat treatment evaluators
- Suspension or cancellation of a recognized heat treatment evaluator
Heat treatment process
Wood products have been frequently identified as a potential pathway for the spread of invasive alien species. As a result, certain countries, including Canada, have implemented heat treatment import requirements for wood products to mitigate the pest risk. In addition, the CFIA has developed integrated systems to meet international treatment requirements.
The International Plant Protection Convention has adopted the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measure No. 15 (ISPM No. 15): Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade. This standard provides an approved heat treatment for wood packaging material. According to the standard, compliant wood must be heat treated to a minimum temperature of 56°C throughout the profile of the wood (including its core) for a minimum of 30 minutes (56/30). Many countries have implemented this heat treatment standard for other imported wood products (e.g. sawn wood, wood chips). Other heat treatment standards may be applied as well for specific targeted pests such as emerald ash borer (71°C for 1200 minutes) or high risk commodities like firewood (60°C for 60 minutes).
Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program
The CFIA has developed the Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program (HT program) for the purpose of producing wood products in compliance with international heat treatment (56/30) standards. The CFIA's technical document PI-07: Technical Heat Treatment Guidelines and Operating Conditions provides generic schedules to achieve the 56/30 heat treatment standard in any kiln or heat chamber operating in Canada. These options were developed based upon testing wood under a variety of conditions (various wood species, wood thickness, and moisture content, etc.). The resulting schedules include significant requirements to treat the wood to ensure that each piece within any type of chamber and any native species of wood has been effectively treated. This results in over-treating most loads processed in the country.
If a facility cannot or does not wish to utilise the generic options stated in PI-07, if the facility wishes to treat wood products for which generic options do not exist or if the use of a heat treatment technology is not covered by PI-07, a site specific schedule may be developed by a recognized heat treatment evaluator to ensure that the 56/30 heat treatment standard or other specified heat treatment is achieved. Various elements must be included in the development of heat treatment schedules. Such schedules would be specific to the species group of wood to be treated, the size of wood being treated, the moisture content of the species, the specific operating devices used in the chamber, etc. The site specific schedule(s) can not be used for other wood species groups of higher wood density or dimensions larger than those tested, or if changes that may affect the treatment are made to the operation of the heat treatment equipment.
The role of a recognized heat treatment evaluator
A recognized heat treatment evaluator is defined as a person or organization that has been approved by the CFIA to conduct scientific analyses pertaining to the heat treatment of wood and wood products. The role of a recognized heat treatment evaluator is to determine if a heat treatment equipment, is capable of achieving the phytosanitary treatment standard (for example 56/30) and to provide the facility with specifications on how that treatment may be consistently achieved . Multiple tests may be required to achieve a schedule(s) for different wood species group or thicknesses or for other equipment at the facility.
The heat treatment evaluator must produce a report for each site-specific heat treatment option developed for facilities registered under the HT program as well as for each generic option developed for the HT program. Data and reports describing how options were developed must be available to the CFIA at any time. A copy must also be shared with the facility.
The agency may call on the evaluator as needed in case of an incoming audit by a trading partner. The heat treatment evaluator must be capable of demonstrating the effectiveness and defending any options they have developed to the CFIA and any foreign auditor.
How to apply to be a recognized heat treatment evaluator
Application process
To apply, submit a completed application form and operating manual to the CFIA's forestry team: forestry-foresterie@inspection.gc.ca.
If approved, we will formally recognize you by publishing the name of your organization on our Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program page.
Application form
Complete section 1, 2 and 3 of the Application form for recognition as a heat treatment evaluator by the CFIA (PDF; 25 KB).
Form description
Application for recognition as a heat treatment evaluator by the CFIA
Section 1: Applicant information
- Legal name of the heat treatment evaluator:
- Address:
- City:
- Province:
- Postal code:
- Telephone number:
- Email:
- Primary contact:
- Secondary contact:
Section 2: Operating manual
The applicant has provided an operating manual outlining how they meet organizational requirements and program criteria.
Organizational requirements:
- Applicant confirmation:
- Yes
- No
- CFIA verified:
- Yes
- No
Program criteria:
- Applicant confirmation:
- Yes
- No
- CFIA verified:
- Yes
- No
Section 3: Signature
The applicant warrants and represents that all information provided by the applicant to the CFIA is true, complete and accurate to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned.
I [name], the authorized representative of the above named heat treatment evaluator, have read, understood and agree to all the terms and conditions stated herein.
The applicant is responsible for and shall indemnify and save harmless and defend at its own costs her Majesty in right of Canada, including the CFIA, her successors and assigns, employees, officials, agents and contractors from and against all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs, including solicitor and own-client costs, expenses, actions, suits or other proceedings whatsoever, brought or prosecuted in any manner which heretofore or hereafter may be made by limitation, omissions and misrepresentations, of the applicant, its employees, officials, agents, or contractors; whether by reason of negligence or otherwise, in the participation by the applicant, its employees, officials, agents or contractors, in the HT Program or any activity undertaken or purported to be undertaken under the authority or pursuant to the terms and conditions of this application or the HT Program.
- Signature of representative:
- Heat treatment evaluator:
- Date:
Section 4: Recognition (for CFIA use only)
Procedures approved:
- Yes
- No
Heat treatment evaluator recognized:
- Yes
- No
Signature of CFIA representative:
- Signature:
- Date:
Operating manual
The operating manual must include, in detail, how you will meet the following organizational requirements and program criteria.
Organizational requirements
In the operating manual, demonstrate how you will:
- be legally identifiable
- be responsible for your verification activities
- have documented policies and decision-making procedures that distinguish between activities for which you have received formal recognition and any other activities in which your organization is engaged
- be objective in your decisions and activities performed as heat treatment evaluator
- be soundly supported financially
- be free from commercial or any other influence that might affect your integrity
- ensure sufficient and competent personnel to undertake the requirements of heat treatment equipment evaluation
Program criteria
In the operating manual, demonstrate how you will be capable of meeting the following criteria:
- You understand the heat treatment programs used for sawn wood developed by the CFIA (for example, the Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program)
- You hold documented expertise in the area of wood heat treatment technology (e.g. principles of heat chamber operation, testing for heat treatment, etc.)
- You have the ability to conduct physical testing of material
- You understand industry practices for heat treatment and drying of solid-wood products
- You have the ability to conduct field work to support and/or validate test results
- You will provide an annual report by January 31th summarizing evaluation activities performed in the previous calendar year. The annual report must also include information on how the heat treatment evaluator continues to meet the Program criteria above and maintains its expertise and ability to conduct heat treatment evaluations
- You must be ready to share all reports and data supporting any options they develop. Records must be kept indefinitely
- You must be ready to participate in foreign audits as needed
Annual reports and heat treatment schedules
Annual report
Once you are recognized as a heat treatment evaluator, you will need to provide an annual report by January 31th. Your annual report must:
- include a summary of the evaluation activities you performed in the previous calendar year
- demonstrate how you continue to meet the program criteria, maintain your expertise in heat treatment, and maintain your ability to conduct heat treatment evaluations
Developing a heat treatment schedule
In developing heat treatment schedules, several elements need to be established or developed. The elements that need to be documented in the final report for the new schedule include, but are not limited to:
- Procedure for cold spot determination based on load configuration
- Instructions on heat sensors placement
- Methodology for determination of minimum heat treatment time, including confidence level considering variability between wood pieces. The data acquired from the tests performed to develop the schedule must be provided in the final report for the schedule.
- Requirements related to heat sensors (including verification and calibration), data acquisition systems (including data recording interval) and data analysis tools.
Oversight of heat treatment evaluators
CFIA inspectors may conduct an evaluation of your organization and the services it provides to determine its capacity to meet the criteria specified on this page. The CFIA may also require you to demonstrate your capacity to evaluate a heat treatment equipment and provide schedules developed for registered facilities to maintain your recognition.
Suspension or cancellation of a recognized heat treatment evaluator
If we identify that a recognized heat treatment evaluator is not in compliance with the requirements on this page or is not providing the required details related to a facility's custom schedule to meet a specific heat treatment requirement, we may suspend or cancel their recognition through a written notice.
The standards specified do not limit the regulatory actions which may be taken by CFIA in response to violations of the Plant Protection Act or Plant Protection Regulations.