Forest Products: Trade Policy Highlights


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	FOREST PRODUCTS TRADE POLICY HIGHLIGHTS - MAY 2005
	White Oak Log Derogation Enable U.S. Exporters To Continue Shipping to the European Union
	On April 29, 2005, the European Commission (Commission) approved derogation to European Union Directive 2000/29/EC that will enable U.S. white oak logs to continue to be shipped to the European Union. Under EU Directive 2000/29/EC, U.S. oak logs with bark were not permitted entry into the European Union because of the risk of introducing the virus Ceratocystis fagacearum, the cause of oak wilt. A similar derogation expired on December 31, 2004. The new derogation runs through 2010, provided certain conditions are followed. The Commission acknowledged that the risk of spreading Ceratocystis fagacearum can be eliminated through fumigation, and that during October 15 through April 31, the risk of transmitting the virus into northern EU ports (those ports north of 45^o latitude) is sufficiently low so as to permit the entry of logs without fumigation. White oak logs exports to the European Union increased five-fold during 2000-2004, reaching $37 million in 2004. One-half of the log exports occur during the winter period when fumigation is not required.