Compliance

ISPM 15 Wood Packaging Requirements

What every forwarder needs to verify before cargo hits the port.

180+
Countries Enforcing
$800–2,500
Avg Re-Treatment Cost
3–7 Days
Typical Delay

What Is ISPM 15?

The international standard that governs wood packaging in cross-border shipments.

ISPM 15 is an IPPC regulation requiring all solid wood packaging used in international trade to be treated and marked.

It applies to pallets, crates, dunnage, skids, and any other solid wood thicker than 6mm.

Enforcement varies by country, but the consequences are universal.

What It Applies To

Pallets (most common issue)
Wooden crates and boxes
Dunnage and blocking/bracing
Skids and runners
Cable drums / spools

What's Exempt

Plywood / particle board / OSB
Processed wood (veneer, MDF)
Wood thinner than 6mm
Cardboard and paper packaging
Plastic or metal pallets

Approved Treatment Methods

Only two treatment methods are accepted under ISPM 15.

Heat Treatment (HT)

Wood core temperature must reach 56°C for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes.

Accepted by all 180+ ISPM 15 countries
No chemical residue — safe for food-grade cargo
Permanent treatment (doesn't expire)
Requires certified kiln facilities
Slightly higher cost than MB in some markets

Methyl Bromide Fumigation (MB)

Chemical fumigation with methyl bromide gas. Being phased out globally due to ozone depletion.

Can be done on-site without kiln
Lower cost in some developing markets
Banned by EU, Canada, China, Australia, and others
Cannot be used with food products
Being phased out under Montreal Protocol
Requires re-treatment if modified

Recommendation: Always specify HT treatment. MB is banned at too many destinations to be reliable.

Reading the ISPM 15 Mark

Every compliant piece of wood packaging carries a branded or stenciled mark. Here's how to read it.

1

IPPC Symbol

The wheat/grain logo on the left side.

2

Country Code

Two-letter ISO code (e.g., US, DE, CN).

3

Producer / Facility Number

Unique number assigned to the treatment provider.

4

Treatment Code

HT = Heat Treatment, MB = Methyl Bromide.

5

DB (Debarked)

Optional addition indicating bark was removed.

Example: IPPC logo + US-12345 HT DB = Heat-treated and debarked wood from US facility #12345

Common Compliance Failures

These are the issues that actually cause rejections at port.

Stamp is faded, partial, or missing

$800–1,500 re-treatment

Rain, friction, or poor branding makes the mark unreadable.

Dunnage is non-compliant

$1,000–2,500 + delays

Shipper treats the pallets but throws in raw wood dunnage.

Repaired pallet with untreated wood

Full re-treatment required

A broken board was replaced with raw lumber.

MB treatment shipped to EU/Canada/China

$1,500–3,000 + 5-7 day delay

Shipper used methyl bromide but destination country banned it.

Using ISPM 15 mark on exempt materials

Adding a mark to exempt materials can trigger inspections.

Forwarder's Pre-Shipment Checklist

Run through this before every booking that involves wood packaging.

Confirm all wood packaging carries a visible ISPM 15 mark with IPPC symbol

Verify treatment code is HT (not just DB)

Check that marks are deep-branded or heat-stamped, not just ink

Inspect dunnage and blocking/bracing — loose wood pieces are the #1 missed item

If pallets were repaired, verify replacement boards are also treated and marked

For EU/Canada/Australia/China: confirm NO methyl bromide treatment was used

Document compliance with photos before container is sealed

Include ISPM 15 compliance requirement in your booking confirmation to shippers

Frequently Asked Questions

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