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ReferenceShipping a wood slab to another country: what changes by destination
SlabHome editorial team · Last reviewed October 2026
The slab is the same wherever it goes. The rules at the border are not. Three questions decide how smoothly a single slab or a small crate clears customs: is there bark or anything an insect could live in, can the importer show where the timber came from, and does the packing wood carry the ISPM 15 mark.
What changes by destination
| Destination | Biosecurity regulator | Bark and treatment | Timber legality | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (BICON import conditions) | Strict: timber must be bark free or treated, inspection on arrival is common | Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012, importer due diligence | ISPM 15 mark, bark free |
| New Zealand | Ministry for Primary Industries (import health standards) | Strict: check the import health standard for sawn wood and wooden articles | Check current rules | ISPM 15 mark |
| United States | USDA APHIS (7 CFR 319.40) and CBP | Regulated wood articles must be bark free or treated; check whether a finished top is exempt | Lacey Act plant declaration for covered products | ISPM 15 mark |
| European Union | National plant health authorities | Check plant health rules for wood with bark | EUDR due diligence for wood products (check the current application date) | ISPM 15 mark |
| Japan | MAFF plant protection stations | Check plant quarantine for wood with bark | Clean Wood Act (check obligations) | ISPM 15 mark |
| Singapore | National Parks Board (plant health) and Singapore Customs | Check the plant import rules for wood | Check current rules | ISPM 15 mark |
A starting checklist, not a ruling. Rules change: the country pages carry the date the facts were checked. Confirm with your customs broker before the goods leave.
Three things to settle before the crate is built
- Bark. A live edge with bark is the most common reason a slab is held at the border. Removing it at the workshop is cheaper than treatment or re-export on arrival. The live edge countertop page covers bark off and bark on.
- Species and origin. Several destinations ask the importer to name the genus, species and country of harvest. Ask the workshop for these in writing with the quote.
- Crate. Crates, pallets and bracing must be heat treated and marked to ISPM 15. Packing and freight are covered in shipping wood slabs internationally.
Put the delivery country on the request, so matched workshops quote with the paperwork that destination needs.
Frequently asked questions
Does a finished wood table top need a phytosanitary certificate?
It depends on the destination and on how processed the wood is. Many countries treat a sanded, kiln dried and coated top as a manufactured article with fewer requirements than raw sawn timber, but bark, insect holes or an unfinished surface can change that. The country pages name the rule to check, and a customs broker confirms it for your shipment.
Who is responsible for import paperwork?
The importer of record, usually the buyer or the buyer's customs broker. The workshop supplies the commercial invoice, packing list, species and origin details, treatment certificates where needed and ISPM 15 marked packaging. SlabHome does not arrange shipping or customs.
Last reviewed October 2026. Figures are typical values from the sources named above, never a promise for one piece.
Describe the top you want
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