Creosote approval renewed for non-landscape uses only
09 Apr 2026 | BALI Member News
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has allowed the continued use of creosote for a few sector-specific purposes in Great Britain but the preservative cannot be sold for various landscaping tasks from 1 April 2027.
Creosote can now be sold for railway sleepers, transmission poles, and safety critical fencing (requiring compliance with BS8417 service factor D) until at least 31 March 2033, following an evaluation and decision by the HSE.
However, wood treated with the preservative cannot be marketed for the following uses on or after 1 April 2027, though treated wood can still be supplied and used after this date if it entered the supply chain beforehand:
- Fencing (non-safety critical uses)
- Tree stakes
- Marine applications
- Environmental barriers
- Industrial landscape retaining timbers
- Cladding for non-residential buildings
The HSE says those selling creosote products in Great Britain should check the approval conditions as some of these are new – you can read more about the approval on the HSE website.