Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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397. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to a ban on the importation of logs and timber from countries that have an infestation of the bark beetle in view of the fact that not to do so will jeopardise the timber here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27759/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Forest pests and disease can be readily transported from one country to another and we need to be vigilant in respect of all these harmful organisms. These organisms may be associated with a variety of internationally traded plants, plant products including wood and wood packaging material such as crates and pallets which can be associated with goods of any kind.

In order to address this potential threat of introduction of a harmful organism in this manner and to protect the health of Ireland’s forest resource, there is comprehensive legislation in place which describes particular import requirements for a range of commodities from origins where the presence of harmful forest pests and disease is known to occur.

Specifically, the Plant Health Regulation EU 2016/2031 and Official Controls Regulation EU 2017/625 which came into effect from the 14th December 2019 describe import controls for a range of wood and wood products from Third Countries and from within the EU in order to prevent the entry & spread of non-indigenous quarantine harmful organisms. 

Under the legislation, Ireland has “Protected Zone” status within the EU for a range of forestry harmful organisms.  This status recognises in legal terms the freedom from their presence in Ireland, despite having conditions which are suitable for their establishment should they be introduced.

This legislation allows Ireland to implement more stringent import requirements on certain commodities than would be the case were these commodities moved between other EU Member States.  In the case of the importation of coniferous logs from continental Europe, Ireland has additional phytosanitary import requirements and controls as described which permit the movement of this commodity into Protected Zones. If the logs satisfy the import requirements they can  move, which is in line with the operation of the EU Single Market.