By Kirsty Needham
SYDNEY (Reuters) – China has stopped the import of all timber from the Australian state of Victoria after customs officials said they had discovered pests, Australia said.
Australia’s Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the General Administration of Customs in China had informed the agriculture department that “all export of logs from the state of Victoria are suspended as of 11 November”.
The ban comes a week after China halted timber imports from northeast Queensland state, and Chinese importers told media they had been called to a meeting and informally told by officials that Australian products would face increased customs inspections after Nov. 6.
Chinese officials have denied any coordinated action is being taken against Australian products.
Diplomatic relations with China, Australia’s biggest trading partner, have worsened after Canberra called for an international inquiry into the source of the coronavirus.
Australian agriculture officials last week warned 400 exporters there had been recent customs delays in China and commercial losses, including live lobsters that died waiting for customs clearance in Shanghai.
Littleproud said in a statement to Reuters that the latest timber suspension follows the detection of bark beetle in logs exported from Victoria this year and concerns around fumigation of bushfire affected logs.
The agriculture department is working with Victoria’s timber industry to enhance log treatment, he said.
The Australian Forestry Products Association said it was seeking more details from Chinese officials about the incidents.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Michael Perry)
