Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps she is taking to ensure that all imported consignments of foreign timber are properly inspected for forestry pests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30138/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Council Directive 2000/29/EC (commonly referred to as the EU Plant Health Directive) deals with protective measures against the introduction into the European Union of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community. It sets out the range of timber and timber products that are subject to plant health control.

Whether or not a timber import or wood packaging is subject to control is dependent on the risk of a potentially harmful forest pest being associated with the import. This is in turn is determined by the species and origin of the import, and the nature of the commodity. The documentary and treatment requirements for import of controlled timbers are set out in the Directive.

Where a timber import is subject to control, officials from the Forest Service of my Department undertake documentary, identity and plant health inspections and where appropriate may take enforcement actions to maintain the favourable pest and disease status of the national forest estate.