Kiln Drying Certification

Has the ever increasing costs of shipping export hardwood lumber got you down? Completely fed up with scheduling a shipment around someone that does not work for you? Would you like to save time and money? Then the APHIS-Approved NHLA Certification of Kiln Drying Sawn Hardwood Lumber Program is for you!

The Program which was initiated by APHIS is controlled through a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. The Program achieves the same goals as the APHIS Phytosanitary Certificate but at less cost both to APHIS and the U.S. hardwood industry. The system mirrors the successful fifteen year old softwood certification program previously developed by APHIS for the European Union.

The USDA-APHIS is actively pursuing the acceptance of the program in many countries including China. Below is a current list of countries that are accepting the NHLA Kiln Drying Certificate provided by USDA – APHIS:

  • Australia - Accepts KD Certificate, but with higher temperature requirements 74°C for 18 hours. 
  • Brazil, Mexico and Vietnam – Accept the KD Certificate without additional requirements.
  • Venezuela - Must be marked KD (but KD Certificate not required)
  • European Union* - Accept the KD Certificate but will not accept KD Certificate for oak, maple, sycamore, poplar, ash, or chestnut.

*A request has been submitted for all species except ash.
(An ash treatment must be approved by EU first.)

KD Certification Program fees are as follows and include audit charges:

NHLA member: $450 per month
Non-Member:$500 per month

Additional costs include:

  • Postage for sending Certificates and Id Tags
  • Id Tags (Currently at $8.50 per hundred)

The Program involves regular inspections of subscribing hardwood facilities in the U.S. by both independent third party auditors and APHIS inspectors to ensure continuing conformance to the Kiln Drying Sawn Hardwood Standard.

If you would like to learn more about the program or would like to join the program, please contact NHLA Chief Inspector, Dana Spessert at 901-399-7551 or d.spessert@nhla.com.