
Article 1 
By way of derogation from Article 13(1)(ii) of Directive 2000/29/EC, Member States shall be authorised to allow for the introduction into their territory of bark-free sawn wood of Quercus L., Platanus L. and Acer saccharum Marsh., originating in the United States of America and covered by one of the CN codes and the descriptions set out in Section I(6) of Part B of Annex V to that Directive, without being accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, provided such wood complies with the conditions set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2 

1. Member States shall inform the Commission and the other Member States in writing when they have made use of the derogation provided for in Article 1.Member States that made use of the derogation shall provide the Commission and the other Member States before 15 July each year with information on the number of consignments imported in the previous year pursuant to Article 1 of this Decision and with a detailed report of all cases of interceptions as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article.
2. Member States shall notify the Commission and the other Member States no later than two working days after the date of interception of each consignment introduced into their territory pursuant to Article 1 which does not comply with the conditions set out in the Annex.
3. The Commission shall request the United States of America to provide it with the technical information necessary to allow the Commission to assess the functioning of the Kiln Drying Sawn Hardwood Lumber Certification Program.
Article 3 
This Decision shall expire on 30 November 2016.
Article 4 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 18 December 2013.
For the Commission
Tonio BORG
Member of the Commission
ANNEX
PART I
The conditions referred to in Article 1 under which Member States are authorised to allow for the introduction into their territory of bark-free sawn wood of Quercus L., Platanus L. and Acer saccharum Marsh. originating in the United States of America and covered by one of the CN codes and the descriptions set out in Section I(6) of Part B of Annex V to Directive 2000/29/EC without being accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, are the following:


((1)) the wood shall be manufactured at sawmills or treated at appropriate premises approved and audited by the US National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) to participate in the Kiln Drying Sawn Hardwood Lumber Certification Program (‘the programme’);
((2)) the wood shall undergo kiln-drying to below 20 % moisture content, expressed as a percentage of dry matter, achieved through an appropriate time/temperature schedule;
((3)) once the condition laid down in point (2) is fulfilled, a standard steel ID clip shall be affixed to each bundle by, or under the supervision of, the designated officer of the mill referred to in point (1). Each ID clip shall be stamped with ‘NHLA — KD’ along with a unique number assigned to each bundle;
((4)) in order to ensure that the conditions laid down in points (2) and (3) are fulfilled, the wood shall be subject to a checking system which is set up under the programme and which includes pre-shipment inspection and monitoring at the approved sawmills carried out by independent third party auditors qualified and authorised for that purpose. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture shall carry out occasional pre-shipment inspections and six-monthly audits of NHLA records and procedures relating to the programme, of the independent third party auditors and of the sawmills and other appropriate premises that participate in the programme;
((5)) the wood shall be accompanied by a standard ‘Certificate of Kiln Drying’ which complies with the model set out in Part II of this Annex, and which is issued by a person or persons authorised to participate in the programme and is validated by an inspector of the NHLA. The Certificate of Kiln Drying shall be completed and shall include information on the amount of bark-free sawn wood in board feet and cubic metres. The certificate shall also specify the total number of bundles and each of the ID clip numbers assigned to those bundles.

PART II
Agreement No 07-8100-1173-MU

Cert #. xxxxx-xxxxx


Lumber Kiln Dried by Consignee
Name of Company: Name:
Address: Address:
City/State/Zip: City/State/Zip:
Phone: Country:
Order #: Port:
Invoice #: Container #:
Customer PO#: 

Certificate Standard: This certifies that the lumber described below is of the allowed genera Quercus sp. and/or Platanus sp. and/or the species Acer saccharum and/or Acer macrophyllum; and has met the treatment requirements of the Dry Kiln Operators Manual and is bark free.

Botanical Name of wood:

List species, thickness, grade of various items contained in shipment:


Bundle Numbers Clip ID Numbers Board Footage Cubic Meters
   
Totals: # Bundles BdFt Cubic Meters:

(This document is issued under a program officially approved by the Animal, Plant, Health, and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The products covered by this document are subject to pre-shipment inspection by that Agency. No liability shall be attached to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or any representatives of the Department with respect to this certificate.)


Name (print) _ Title _
I certify that the products described above satisfy the Kiln Drying requirements listed under Certificate Standard and are bark free.
Signature _ Date _


Name (print) Authorized signature Title Date

National Hardwood Lumber Association PO Box 34518 | Memphis, TN 38184-0518 | Ph. 901-377-1818 | Fax 901-347-0034 | www.nhla.com

PLEASE SIGN THIS FORM IN BLUE INK
