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Mexico recognizes Canada’s heat treated wood

Jan. 27, 2015 – The federal government announced that wood exports are expected to increase after Mexico agreed to recognize Canada's heat treated lumber certification program.

Under this new arrangement with Mexico, Canadian lumber producers accredited under a heat treatment program overseen by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are now able to export wood such as spruce, pine and fir to Mexico without a phytosanitary certificate.

"I am pleased that we were successful in achieving easier access for world-class Canadian lumber” said Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade. “This will help Canadian exporters tap into the Mexican market, creating jobs and prosperity at home. Mexico offers great opportunities for Canadian businesses, this is very good news for Canada's forestry workers and their families."

The trade and movement of lumber and wood products are often a pathway for the spread of plant pests. In Canada, lumber is heat-treated to reduce this risk and to meet the import requirements of foreign countries. The heat treatment process is defined in the Canadian Heat-Treated Wood Products Certification Program. This program's certificates are recognized by many of Canada's trading partners including the United States, the European Union, Australia, Korea and now Mexico.

"Canada is a responsible supplier of world-class forest products, and I am pleased that Canadian lumber producers can now export to Mexico,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources. “This agreement is a significant milestone in our Government's efforts to enhance market access for Canada's forest products and, in turn, create and protect jobs for Canadians."

The agreement between the CFIA, Natural Resources Canada, and Mexico's environment and natural resources ministry comes as a result of discussions under the North American Plant Protection Organization Cooperative Agreement, which encourages cooperation in facilitating safe trade of plants and plant products between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

January 27, 2015  By  Andrew Macklin