Apply for Ips typographus authorisation to fell and process spruce trees
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-05)

Find out how to apply for authorisation to fell, stack, transport or process spruce trees within the Ips typographus demarcated area (DMA).

Aim of authorisations

To protect the country against Ips typographus, a demarcated area (DMA) is in place.

Land and woodland owners, managers, agents and anyone involved in planting, harvesting, transporting, stacking or processing spruce trees (Picea species) originating in the demarcated area must apply for authorisation.

This is so we can track the presence and movement of spruce trees and material originating within the Ips typographus DMA.

You can apply for authorisation under the following activity types:
- intention to plant spruce authorisation (#spruce)
- intention to fell authorisation (#fell)
- intention to move or dispatch spruce authorisation (#dispatch)
- intention to chip spruce authorisation (#chip)
- intention to stack timber authorisation (#timber)
- processor authorisation (#processor) (for anyone handling controlled material originating in the Ips typographus DMA)
Read more about the spruce tree pest Ips typographus (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eight-toothed-european-spruce-bark-beetle-ips-typographus).

Intention to plant spruce authorisation

If you intend to plant spruce (trees of the genus Picea A. Dietr.) in the demarcated area you need an authorisation.

This prohibition of planting spruce trees applies to any trees grown in the ground or in planting containers, unless exempt under the specified circumstances listed within Notice 7 (2024) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eight-toothed-european-spruce-bark-beetle-ips-typographus#notice).

Exemptions are in place for:
- planting varieties or cultivars of spruce that do not reach over 3m in height at full maturity
- planting spruce trees for the purpose of trade at nursery sites
- planting spruce trees for the purpose of trade in Christmas trees is permitted within the notice, providing the trees do not exceed 3m in height above the root collar. The purpose of trade in Christmas trees must apply for the entire duration the trees are on site
- planting spruce trees for ornamental or scientific purposes under specified circumstances. This is restricted to a maximum of 5 trees per hectare, where the total number of trees in any one hectare does not exceed 5
Nurseries and landscapers trading with customers located inside the demarcated area should make sure that customers are aware of the spruce planting restrictions.

If you intend to plant spruce trees within the DMA outside the scope of the exemptions, authorisation may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to check eligibility for authorisations before applying.

How to apply for planting authorisation

Apply for planting authorisation by emailing: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Planting of spruce that would be considered commercial timber planting will not be permitted within the demarcated area. Additionally, planting of spruce for use as a nurse crop, windbreak or shelterbelt will not be permitted.

Intention to fell authorisation

Any felling, thinning, stem injection, ring barking or single tree removal operations of all species of spruce (Picea) in the DMA must be notified to Forestry Commission Plant Health Forestry (PHF) a minimum of 14 days in advance of operations.

This includes trees and woodlands covered by existing woodland management plans, felling licences and arboricultural work plans that predate the creation of the DMA, but have not yet been carried out.

We will need to carry out a pre-harvesting standing timber inspection. The 14 days’ notice is the minimum notice period required to provide sufficient time for an inspection.

How to apply

The woodland owner/manager/contractor contacts PHF at least 14 days in advance of any harvesting and provides the following information:
- site map with access details, including gates keys/codes where relevant
- full contact details of applicant
- the approximate age of timber to be harvested (e.g. young, pole, mid-rotation, mature veteran)
- a grid reference of the compartment to be harvested
- a site contact and risk assessment/site constraints (if available)
- the estimated volume/m3 of timber to be harvested, or the number of trees
- the type of operation (e.g. thinning/clear fell/stacking/component removal)
- felling licence reference number (if applicable)
Email all the information to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

You will receive a response from PHF within 4 working days. An inspector will arrange an inspection at the site.

If evidence of Ips typographus is found

If the inspector finds evidence or indications of Ips typographus activity, the site is escalated to a more rigorous inspection and harvesting will not be able to take place at this point.

If no evidence of Ips typographus is found

If the inspector finds no evidence or indications of Ips typographus, an authorisation letter will be issued, and harvesting can take place. The authorisation is valid for 3 months after which time a subsequent authorisation will be required.

On thinning sites, the inspector will offer advice and guidance on trees that are deemed high risk for infestation, and signpost further biosecurity guidance. The inspector may mark or tag high risk trees and require these to be removed during thinning operations.

PHF inspectors will also offer guidance on the placement of woodpiles/timber stacks.

The authorisation letter will include a unique identifying reference number associated with the intention to fell and movement/dispatch application, which should be referenced in correspondence and dispatch notes and records.

Christmas trees

If you are harvesting spruce Christmas trees (Picea species) in the DMA, authorisation will be granted on a combined felling and movement authorisation. A physical inspection may not be necessary, as most Christmas trees do not have the potential to host the pest.

Intention to dispatch or move spruce roundwood authorisation

PHF inspectors carry out dispatch inspections by a target ratio of 1 inspection per 300 m3. This is subject to site-specific conditions.

All relevant material originating from within the DMA must go to an authorised processor (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/authorised-processors-for-ips-typographus-and-phytophthora-pluvialis#ips-typographus-authorised-processers).

If you intend to leave material on site with bark attached, you must have authorisation to stack timber. See timber stacking authorisation (#timber).

Do not leave spruce harvesting residue greater than 8cm diameter on site within the DMA following felling operations, unless authorisation to stack this material has been granted. For further details read timber stacking authorisation (#timber).

Stumps may be left but must be cut as low as practical.

How to apply

The woodland owner/manager/contractor contacts PHF at least 14 days in advance of any dispatch or movement and provides the following:
- site map with access details, including gates/keys/codes where relevant full contact details of applicant
- a grid reference of the timber stack location/s
- a site contact and risk assessment/site constraints (if available)
- the estimated volume/m3 of timber to be dispatched, or the number of trees
Email all the information to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

You will receive a response from PHF within 4 working days. An inspector will arrange a site inspection.

If evidence of Ips typographus is found

During dispatch/movement authorisation inspections, PHF will inspect spruce material on your site.

If the presence of Ips typographus is confirmed, the site will be escalated for further surveillance.

Material confirmed to be infested will be issued with a Statutory Plant Health Notice (SPHN) under current policy. This would mandate the destruction of the woodpile (e.g. by chipping) as well as the felling of all spruce within 300m of the log pile, and the felling of stressed spruce within 1km of the log pile.

If no evidence of Ips typographus is found

If the material is found to be free of infestation, a movement/dispatch authorisation letter will be issued. The authorisation confirmation letter will define site details, volume and timescales.

Records of dispatch, i.e. date/volumes/destination/vehicle registration/processor details/dispatch authorisation reference must be provided to PHF within 30 days of the last dispatch from site.

You can apply for movement authorisations by email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Infested material associated with SPHN

Movement of any infested material from a site under SPHN will be in the form of chip. Refer to the spruce chipping authorisation section (#chip) for further details.

Spruce roundwood movement timeframes

Spruce material authorised for movement can be moved in the round to any authorised processor (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/authorised-processors-for-ips-typographus-and-phytophthora-pluvialis#ips-typographus-authorised-processers).

Spruce felled between 1 January and 31 August, must be moved and processed within 8 weeks of movement authorisation.

Spruce felled between 1 September and 31 December, must be moved and processed prior to the end of February, 1 calendar year later.

For example, if spruce is felled in September 2025, it must be moved and processed by the end of February 2026.

Spruce chipping authorisation

All spruce material originating within the DMA that is due to be chipped on site must be inspected prior to chipping.

How to apply

The woodland owner/manager/contractor contacts PHF at least 14 days in advance of any chipping and provides the following information:
- site map with access details, including gates/keys/codes where relevant
- full contact details of applicant
- a grid reference of the timber stack location/s
- a site contact and risk assessment/site constraints (if available)
- the estimated volume/m3 of timber to be chipped, or the number of trees
Email all information to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Spruce chip movement authorisation and timescales

Spruce material originating within the DMA must be:
- chipped on site to G50 grade or smaller following authorisation
- chipped before dispatch
When moving chipped material, you must adhere to the following:

Moving material within the DMA

Chipped spruce material can be moved to any processor or storage facility if being moved within the DMA. This includes sites under SPHN.

Moving material outside of the DMA

Chipped spruce material from sites under SPHN must be moved to an authorised processor (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/authorised-processors-for-ips-typographus-and-phytophthora-pluvialis#ips-typographus-authorised-processers) if being moved outside of the DMA.

Chipped spruce material from a non-SPHN site can move to any storage location or processor outside of the DMA.

You must provide us with records of all chip movement, regardless of destination, as a condition of the chipping authorisation.

If spruce material is authorised to be chipped between 1 January and 31 August, it must be chipped within 8 weeks.

If spruce material is authorised to be chipped between 1 September and 31 December, it must be chipped prior to the end of February, 1 calendar year later.

For example, if material is authorised to be chipped in September 2025, the material must be chipped by the end of February 2026.

Timber stacking authorisation

If you intend to stack or leave spruce material greater than 8cm diameter on site within the DMA to season (dry out) or for any other reason, you must apply for authorisation.

No spruce harvesting residue greater than 8cm diameter can be left on site within the DMA following felling operations unless authorisation to stack this material has been granted.

The timber stacking authorisation process does not apply to authorised processors.

There is a different authorisation process for sites without SPHN and sites with SPHN.

Sites without SPHN

For spruce material originating from sites without SPHN, the following conditions must be met before authorisation to stack timber is granted:

There must be no standing spruce under different ownership to the applicant within 300m of the proposed stacking location. If there is spruce under the same ownership as the applicant, authorisation may be granted; however, an inspector will highlight the risk and outcome if an infestation is discovered in the stacked timber.

Where practical to do so, timber stacks should be covered entirely with a thick tarpaulin to help reduce the risk of infestation.

Timber stack height must allow inspection from ground level. If not practical to do so, the owner of the timber stack must provide the means to dismantle the stack and present specified logs in a safe manner for inspection within 24 hours of a request from an Inspector.

An inspector may refuse authorisation of timber stacks based on advice from Forest Research, proximity to known outbreaks, or any other risk factor.

Sites with SPHN

For spruce material originating from SPHN sites, the following conditions must be met before authorisation to stack timber is granted:

Authorisation will not be granted if there is any standing spruce, regardless of ownership, within 300m of the proposed stacking location.

All high risk material originating from the SPHN operation must either be destroyed or have been uplifted and dispatched from the affected site under the timeframe instructed in the SPHN.

Material intended to be stacked must be from a low risk category. For example, healthy spruce within 300m of an infestation.

Material intended to be stacked must be harvested a minimum of 12 months after the infestation was discovered.

Where practical to do so, timber stacks should be covered entirely with a tarpaulin to help reduce the risk of infestation.

Timber stack height must allow inspection from ground level. If not practical to do so, the owner of the timber stack must provide the means to dismantle the stack and present specified logs in a safe manner for inspection within 24 hours of a request from an inspector.

An inspector may refuse authorisation of timber stacks based on advice from Forest Research, proximity to known outbreaks, or any other risk factor.

How to apply for authorisation to stack timber

Apply for timber stacking authorisation by emailing: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Alternatively, an inspector will ask you at the ‘authorisation to fell inspection’ if you intend to stack timber following the end of operations.

A minimum of 14 days’ notice is required, to provide sufficient time for an inspection to be carried out.

Processor authorisation

Processor authorisations aim to:
- track timber movement from the DMA into the market
- remove the risk of spreading infestation from sites via movement or subsequent movement of material
Processor authorisation process:
- businesses must become authorised to receive either infested (high risk) or non-infested (low risk) spruce material from the DMA
- businesses apply to the Ips typographus team, using the Ips typographus authorisations application form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-ips-typographus-authorisation)
- a PHF inspector will visit the premises to ensure you’re aware of the biosecurity requirements and that you can meet the outlined conditions
- authorisation will be confirmed by an official letter from PHF and will be valid for 12 months
Processor conditions:
- the processor may have one or more pheromone traps installed, which will be maintained by PHF, requiring regular site access from March to October
- relevant material should be stored on hard standing to provide access for further sampling, if required
- PHF inspectors will offer guidance on the placement of timber stacks
- between 1 January and 31 August, spruce material originating from within the DMA must be moved and processed within 8 weeks
- between 1 September and 31 December, spruce material from within the DMA must be moved and processed prior to the end of February, 1 calendar year later (for example, if authorised to move in September 2025, the material must be chipped by the end of February 2026)
- low risk co-product (for example slabwood from sawmilling) must be chipped to G50 size or smaller and can enter the horticultural supply chain
- the premises can be visited at any reasonable time by a PHF inspector to ensure conditions are being complied with
- samples of products, co-products or residue are to be made available to PHF inspectors prior to authorisation
- all records of deliveries and dispatch of relevant spruce material are to be made available to PHF on request
- authorisation remains valid for 12 months
- PHF will contact authorisation holders to discuss authorisation renewal annually
- processor authorisations and relevant premises may be audited at any point during the valid authorisation period or for a period of 3 years
How to apply for processor authorisation

To apply for processor authorisation complete the Ips typographus authorisation application form (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67176f12e319b91ef09e37dd/20241016-APPLICATION_FORM-become_authorised_to_receive_and_process_spruce.pdf).

Email your application form to: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Further resources

Read more about restrictions in the demarcated area and view the map of the DMA (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eight-toothed-european-spruce-bark-beetle-ips-typographus#map).

Find out what to do if you’re issued with a SPHN (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-plant-health-notice-process-for-ips-typographus-infestations).