European veneer manufacturers depend greatly on oak imports from the USA. To prevent the accidental introduction of the American oak wilt disease (Ceratocystis fagacearum) into the member states of the European Community, a disinfection treatment was developed for oak logs with respect to the special demands of the veneer industry. Laboratory experiments and field trials in Europe and the USA showed that the fungus can be eradicated from large oak logs with bark attached, by a fumigation with 240 g methyl bromide/m3applied for 3 days at temperatures of 3°C or above