China suspends timber log exports from Victoria

China has banned Victorian log exports – just a week after Australian timber was placed on a rumoured hit list for trade sanctions.

On shore: Timber logs from two Australian states have now been suspended from export to China.

CHINA has indefinitely banned Victorian timber imports, claiming to have found a pest beetle in shipments this year.

Chinese authorities notified the Federal Department of Agriculture that all log shipments from Victoria are suspended, as of yesterday.

It follows rumours last week that China was preparing to slap a blanket ban on Australian exports across seven sectors, including timber. Bans have already been placed on Queensland timber.

China says the pest, the live bark beetle, has been detected in a number of shipments from Victoria this year.

“There is concern around the effectiveness of fumigation treatments on shipments of bushfire-affected logs,” Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said.

“The department has notified the industry and the major Victorian exporter and is working with industry on an enhanced treatment and inspection response.”

Mr Littleproud said he would be writing to the General Administration of Customs in China in the coming days.

It’s understood several log shipments from Victoria have already been cancelled.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said she received advice of the suspension last night and was now working with the federal government, which was leading discussions.

Ms Symes said she was not aware of any evidence of bark beetle so far, but that was being worked through.

“Of course if bark beetle is present, that is indeed a legitimate reason to suspend trade and we want to make sure we can address any of those quarantine issues as quickly as possible,” she said.

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