Importing Tropical Wood to Canada

Daninvan | Posted in Wood and Materials on May 10, 2006 08:37am

I am planning a little wood buying trip to Seattle and Portland. I plan to drive down from Vancouver BC, load up the car with goodies, mainly tropicals and maybe some claro walnut, and then bring it all back to Canada with me in the truck.

I have been reading up on the rules for importing tropical woods into Canada, and concluded I need some help. It seems that an import permit and a phytosanitary permit may be required, but I am not sure.

Can anyone with some experience offer some insights into what, if any documentation/permits are required? I will not be bringing in any CITES listed woods.

Thanks,

Dan

Replies

WillGeorge | May 10, 2006 04:17pm | #1
Just funnin' ya! From the USA

I plan to drive down from Vancouver BC.. HAY Our wood just have little bugs... We Love Pine trees!

Just jokin'.. I'd call your Customs office and ask! They! THE "judge" WHEN YOU GET BACK!

EDIT: I would ask a local hardwwod importer.. Cost a bit more BUT THEY deal with customs! Really worth the extra cost if ya get 'busted'

Edit two: I'd say why they have that business.. To 'smooth' over you worries..

Edit three:? I forgot.. Long story, long ago.. I did myself! (BIG mistake) To Australia.. With ALL the paper work... FROM the Audtralia folks in the USA.. Geeee.. Anyway..

I arrived and the Taxes were MORE that what I brought in! I threw it in the trash can they had and said I did not bring in anything.

They let me pass and I had to do it the right way!

Edited 5/10/2006 9:24 am by WillGeorge

Edited 5/10/2006 9:25 am by WillGeorge

Edited 5/10/2006 9:32 am by WillGeorge
mcculloch | May 11, 2006 09:45am | #2
Hi Daninvan
I agree with Willgeorge that the best approach would be to call the Canada customs office. They are quite helpful and will tell you all the things that you need to have to import. They will also let you know what duties and taxes may apply to the product.
I have never imported lumber but I can tell you that a Phytosanitary Certificate is absolutely required for any "living" plant material. You can get this done either by the US Dept of Ag or the Canadian Agriculture. There is a charge involved but I don't remember what it is.

Good Luck
QCInspector | May 11, 2006 11:48am | #3
A few friends have brought some back over the years and as far as I know, as long as it's for personal use, there is no bark or cracks that can harbour bugs and the wood is dry, you just have to pay the GST & PST. There are no other duties, taxes or tariffs.

It wouldn't hurt to check further however. If you do need some paperwork, the hardwood dealers you're buying from should be able to supply. You could also get a hold of one of the mail order outfits and ask them since they send wood over the line all the time. Here is a link to a company in the Fraser Valley that sends to the States. Maybe they will help you with the question.

http://fine-woods.com/index.html

Daninvan | May 11, 2006 08:25pm | #4
Thanks everyone for all the responses.

I called two government agencies, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, but unfortunately neither seemed to really know what the rules are. They said the best thing would be just to check at Canada Customs on my way down across the border, and see what they say.

So basically, roll the dice and see what happens. I suspect that there will be no problem, but it's nice to sure rather than put your fate in the hands of some clerk at the border who may be having a bad day.

Anyways, the reason I am contemplating this is to get access to a different selection of woods, and the prices are way better down south than locally on a number of woods. Here are the bf prices locally at Windsor Plywood for some species, you can compare them with what you pay locally in your town. Cocobolo $42, Gocalo Alves $22, Jatoba $12, Ipe $30, Teak $31, Zircote $51, etc. The only bargain I found at Windsor was Bocote at $6, but it was labelled as Canalete.

I will let you know how it goes . . .

Dan

QCInspector | May 11, 2006 10:05pm | #5
As an alternative to Windsor check out Reimer Hardwoods in Abbotsford.http://reimerhardwoods.com/default.asp

KnotNow | May 12, 2006 06:47am | #6
Do they just wholesale or do they sell small quantities?

QCInspector | May 12, 2006 11:35am | #8
They are open to the little guy's from noon to 4:30, Monday to Fridays. As far as I know they don't limit the quantities, but don't pull a pile apart to get a board or two without putting the stack back together neatly. (I may have stated the obvious and don't mean to imply that you or anyone else reading this would, but..... ) Most of the time when I go through a stack I find that any that I put aside are due to size rather than quality, so end up taking off the top.They do have a "shorts" area near the front that fits the needs of the small project maker, the longer stuff is beyond that. The scalers will pull down the lifts with a forklift and leave you to select what you want, and then come back when you're ready to tally.
Adrian | May 12, 2006 02:41pm | #9
The quantities you're talking about, probably noone is going to give you much grief, but if you want to play safe, I'd use a customs broker.

The phytosanitary certification is already a major headache for everyone dealing with larger quantities, and it's going to get worse. It's going into play all around the world, but CFIA does not have it figured out at all. One of the big problems is that hardwoods have to be heat-treated for a certain number of hours at a certain temperature to pass.....but for a lot of species (like maple), the required process will ruin the quality of the lumber. Some companies are working on custom kiln schedules, but like I said, it's not figured out yet at all. If I recall, one of the quirks is that if you are shipping a wood product (like flooring say), it has to be heat treated.....but the pallets don't have to be. I may have that mixed up.....have only attended one session on the new rules, and there are a lot of gray areas.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

tmaxxx | May 12, 2006 08:41am | #7
you can also check out pj white. e kent st under the knight st bridge. jatoba is 4.73 b.f. but they only sell full pieces. reimer will cut some stuff.

http://www.pjwhitehardwoods.com/

Tmaxxx

Urban Workshop Ltd

Vancouver B.C.

cheers. Ill buy.

Edited 5/12/2006 1:43 am ET by tmaxxx
WillGeorge | May 13, 2006 07:45pm | #10
LOL LOL ..but unfortunately neither seemed to really know what the rules are.You should try the USA for information!
Damn, they sure know the law to put you in Jail or pay TAXES..DUMB AS A ROCK when you ask a serious Question.. Men In Black hallin' my butt off to 'someplace' just now...