The British Wood Preserving & Damp-proofing Association (BWPDA) says the timber treatment industry has prepared itself well for new regulations governing use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA).

The regulations, the result of EC directive 2003/2/EC, came into force on June 30, banning use of CCA treated timber in residential and domestic constructions, plus any applications with a risk of “repeated skin contact”. It can still be used for certain professional and industrial applications.

BWPDA director Dr Chris Coggins said: “Everything has been done but there are bound to be some loose ends.

“There may be the odd incident of finding CCA treated timber in the supply chain, but it will not be because of a lack of effort by the preservative suppliers and their customers to address the issue.”

&#8220There may be the odd incident of finding CCA treated timber in the supply chain, but it will not be because of a lack of effort by the preservative suppliers and their customers to address the issue”

Dr Chris Coggins, director, BWPDA

He said a high percentage of treaters had switched away from CCA but he expected some to continue using it for restricted end uses because of the “confidence in the long-term durability of CCA”.

Charles Hopping, chairman of Epping-based Hoppings Softwood Products plc, said the new CCA regulations were “not an issue” for the company as it had switched to an alternative treatment 18 months ago.

Mr Hopping added: “We made sure we have complied with the regulations. It makes commercial sense to do so.”