UK lubricant manufacturer and agricultural paints specialist, Witham Group, highlights alternatives for timber protection ahead of new restrictions coming into force in April 2027
Landowners and businesses are being encouraged to prepare for changes to the use of creosote and creosote-treated timber, which are due to come into force from 1 April 2027.
Creosote has been widely used for generations to protect agricultural fencing, posts, and exterior timber. However, the preservative has faced growing scrutiny because it contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are classified as carcinogenic. Growing concerns about its potential impact on human health and the environment have led the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to introduce further restrictions on its use.
From 1 April 2027, if you buy creosote legally as a professional, you cannot lawfully use it to treat timber destined for non-approved applications. In addition, if you use creosote to treat general stock fencing, field gates, or tree stakes on your land, you will be in breach of the updated HSE regulations.
Therefore, creosote-treated timber will no longer be permitted for a range of general agricultural and landscaping applications, including agricultural fencing, landscaping timbers, tree stakes and other non-safety-critical uses.
Its use will remain authorised for certain professional and industrial applications where specific requirements apply, and suitable alternatives are not available, including some safety-critical fencing, utility poles and railway sleepers, but only in an enclosed system such as pressure-treated. These limited uses will remain in tightly controlled settings.
Importantly, timber that has already been treated with creosote and legally placed on the UK market before 1 April 2027 can continue to be sold, supplied and installed after this date while existing stocks remain.
The regulatory changes are already beginning to affect the market, with supplies of traditional creosote becoming increasingly limited.
Nigel R Bottom, Managing Director of Witham Group, said: “Creosote has been relied upon by the agricultural industry for many years, but these regulatory changes mean farmers and rural businesses need to start thinking about the alternatives available to them.
“Wood protection technology has advanced considerably, and there are now effective alternatives that can provide excellent protection and durability without some of the hazards associated with traditional creosote.
“However, customers need to watch out for ineffective “creosote copies” on the market and choose products wisely.”
