Shipping internationally requires understanding each destination country's wood packaging regulations. While ISPM-15 provides a baseline, individual countries may have additional requirements that can catch unprepared shippers off guard.
European Union: Strict ISPM-15 enforcement. All wood packaging must carry the IPPC stamp. The EU also prohibits methyl bromide treatment — only heat treatment is accepted. Inspections at ports of entry are common and non-compliant shipments are rejected or destroyed.
Canada: Follows ISPM-15 but with enhanced enforcement. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) actively inspects incoming wood packaging. Non-compliant shipments face quarantine, re-treatment at the shipper's expense, or destruction.
Australia: Among the strictest in the world. Beyond ISPM-15, Australia requires that all wood packaging be free of bark, live insects, and signs of active infestation. Fumigation on arrival may be required even for compliant shipments if pests are detected.
China: Requires ISPM-15 compliance with HT or MB treatment. Additionally, China periodically issues enhanced inspection orders targeting specific countries or commodities. Shipping documents must include treatment certificates in addition to the physical pallet stamps.
Mexico: Follows ISPM-15 but enforcement varies by port of entry. Some ports are more rigorous than others. Best practice is to treat all shipments to Mexico as if they will be inspected.
For all export shipments, our recommendation is simple: use heat-treated, ISPM-15 stamped pallets from a certified provider. This covers compliance for virtually every destination country. At Riverside Pallet Co., every export pallet leaves our facility fully stamped and documented.