Authorisation of Road Haulage and Processing of
Wood affected by Phytophthora ramorum
Licence System
Introduction
1.The road haulage and processing of Phytophthora affected wood (definition at paragraph 31) will be permitted under the licence system described below.
2.The granting of any licence and the continuing validity of any licence once issued will at all times be at the discretion of DARD. A wood processing facility in possession of a Processing Licence is termed an Authorised Processing Facility.
3.A Movement Licence will be required for:
- The despatch of roundwood, derived from Phytophthora affected wood, from an infected site to an Authorised Processing Facility.
- The despatch of co-product, residue and plant debris (definition at paragraph 32), from an Authorised Processing Facility to any subsequent Authorised Processing Facility.
4.A Processing Licence will be required for:
- In-forest processing of roundwood, derived from Phytophthora affected wood, into other products.
- Handling and processing roundwood, derived from Phytophthora affected wood, at any other facility into sawn timber and other products.
- Receiving and handling the co-product, residue and plant debris from a processing facility for final disposal.
5.A typical scenario would therefore be:
- A woodland owner would need a Movement Licence to move Phytophthora affected wood from his woodland to an Authorised Processing Facility.
- A processing facility owner or manager would need a Processing Licence and potentially a Movement Licence to move co-products onward to another Authorised Processing Facility.
- An end-use facility would need a Processing Licence.
Monitoring of Licences
6.Movement and Processing Licence holders would be subject to unannounced audits by DARD at any reasonable time. Licence holders will be expected to assist Inspectors to carry out their duties.
7.The aim of these audits will be to support the licence holder to meet and comply with the requirements and conditions of the licence and ensure that records are correct and complete. Failure to follow licence conditions adequately will result in immediate withdrawal of the licence until the issue is rectified.
Movement Licences
8.A Movement Licence will apply to:
- The despatch of Phytophthora affected roundwood or other products derived from processing Phytophthora affected roundwood in the forest, to an Authorised Processing Facility.
- The despatch of co-product, residue and plant debris arising from processing of wood at an Authorised Processing Facility to another Authorised Processing Facility.
9.The Movement Licence will define:
- the premises to which it applies (woodland or processing site, including map);
- the period of time that it is valid;
- the estimated number of loads of affected wood to be despatched.
10.The owner of the affected wood is responsible for applying for a Movement Licence. A manager, agent or representative may apply on their behalf. Subsequent owners must apply for their own Licence.
11.To apply, a Movement Licence form must be completed and submitted to DARD with a map showing the location of the infected site or premises where the wood is kept.
12.Applications will be reviewed by DARD and an inspection visit to the site may be made. The Inspector may impose additional conditions that are specific to the site. The Movement Licence will also refer to the biosecurity measures that must be followed.
13.The owner or manager must sign agreement to all conditions on the licence.
14.Each load despatched will be accompanied by a copy of the Movement Licence plus a Movement Licence Schedule that specifies the details of that particular load, including the reference number of the Authorised Processing Facility to which the load is destined.
15.The holder of the Movement Licence must retain a copy of every Movement Licence Schedule issued with despatched loads.
16.The number of loads can be estimated and further applications made if that estimate is reached prior to despatch of all wood from the site.
17.If the licence period expires before despatch is completed an application for a new licence must be made and approved before further despatch is permitted.
18.The conditions on a Movement Licence can be changed at any time at the discretion of a Plant Health Inspector. A new licence would be issued to supersede the former licence.
19.There is no payment for additional costs arising from movement of wood from infected sites.
20.Movement of wood from uninfected sites is currently unrestricted. This situation may change as new knowledge, understanding and risk of disease spread emerges.
Processing Licences
21.A Processing Licence will apply to:
- A facility handling roundwood, derived from Phytophthora affected wood, from infected sites.
- A facility handling co-product, residue and plant debris arising from the initial processing of wood from infected sites.
- Mobile processing plants operating in-forest.
22.The Processing Licence will define:
- the facility to which it applies (including map);
- the period of time that it is valid.
23.It is the responsibility of the owner or manager of a wood processing facility, wishing to handle and process Phytophthora affected wood, to apply for a Processing Licence. Currently the owner or manager of any wood processing facility throughout the UK can apply to become an Authorised Processing Facility.
24.To apply, a Processing Licence application form must be completed and submitted to DARD. Applications will be reviewed by a Plant Health Inspector who will undertake an inspection visit to the facility. The Inspector may impose additional conditions that are specific to that facility. The Processing Licence will also refer to the biosecurity measures that must be followed.
25.The owner or manager must sign agreement to all conditions on the licence.
26.A Processing Licence holder will be responsible for retaining the copies of the Movement Licence and Movement Licence Schedules that will accompany loads delivered to their facility. These must be provided to a Plant Health Inspector on request.
27.If the licence period expires before processing is completed an application for a new licence must be made and approved before further processing is permitted.
28.There is no payment for additional costs arising from handling and processing wood from infected sites.
29.If the owner or manager of the facility wishes to move co-product, residue and plant debris on to another facility then a Movement Licence would be required.
30.The conditions on a Processing Licence can changed at any time at the discretion of a Plant Health Inspector. A new licence would be issued that would supersede the former licence.
Contact Information
For processing licences, contact Colin Goudy on 028 9052 5423
For movement licences, contact Sharon Cabecinha on 028 9052 4990.
Completed application forms must be sent to
For processing licences:
Colin Goudy,
Room 28
Dundonald House
BT4 3SB
For movement licences:
Sharon Cabecinha
Room 1019
Dundonald House
BT4 3SB
Definitions
31."Phytophthora affected wood" shall mean any tree species originating from sites known to be infected with Phytophthora ramorum.
32."Co-product, residue and plant debris" shall be any material, organic or otherwise, that arises as a consequence of keeping, handling and processing the Phytophthora affected wood. It does not include the square sawn timber recovered, which has no restriction placed on its further movement.
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