WOODSURE, the non-profit organisation striving to raise the quality of woodfuel in the industry, has been appointed by DEFRA to run its Ready to Burn certification scheme.

The scheme will underpin the Air Quality (Domestic Solid Fuels Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 that will come into force in England from 1 May 2021 for most woodfuel suppliers. The new regulations aim to prevent pollution from the domestic burning of all solid fuels by ensuring wood sold in volumes of up to 2 m³ will need to be certified as having a moisture content of 20 per cent or less. Suppliers selling quantities of wood over 2 m³ will need to provide their customers with advice on how to store and season the fuel so that is it dry enough to burn.

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Manufacturers of solid fuels will also be required to demonstrate their products meet smoke emission and sulphur content standards through a certification scheme. Enforcement of the legislative requirements will be undertaken by local authorities.

 Bruce Allen, Woodsure CEO, said: “We are incredibly pleased to be working with DEFRA as the official certification body for the Ready to Burn scheme. We believe that with the additional backing and enforcement of the new Air Quality regulations, the scheme is critical in making it easy for consumers to purchase wood that is legal to use. All they need to do is look out for wood that carries the ‘Ready to Burn’ mark and they can be confident in what they’re using.

“This, along with modern, clean, low-emissions appliances, will make a huge difference to the environmentally responsible use of solid fuels and wood for stoves and boilers. This is a significant step to reducing particulate emissions and to better air quality.”

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