ISPM-15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is the international standard governing the treatment of wood packaging materials used in international trade. If you ship goods across borders on wooden pallets, you need to understand ISPM-15.
The standard was developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to prevent the spread of invasive insects and plant diseases through wood packaging. Raw, untreated wood can harbor organisms like the Asian longhorned beetle and pine wood nematode.
Under ISPM-15, all wood packaging materials must be treated using one of two approved methods: heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation (MB). Heat treatment requires raising the core temperature of the wood to 56°C (132.8°F) for a minimum of 30 minutes.
At Riverside Pallet Co., we exclusively use heat treatment. It's more environmentally friendly than chemical fumigation and is accepted by all ISPM-15 compliant countries. Methyl bromide is being phased out globally due to its ozone-depleting properties.
Treated pallets must bear the official IPPC stamp, which includes the country code, producer number, and treatment method. Without this stamp, your shipment may be refused at customs, quarantined, or destroyed at your expense.
Not all international shipments require ISPM-15 compliance. Manufactured wood products (plywood, OSB, particle board) and plastic pallets are exempt. However, any solid wood packaging — pallets, crates, dunnage — must be treated.
Common mistakes include using non-compliant pallets for export, using pallets with faded or illegible stamps, and failing to re-treat pallets that have been repaired with untreated wood. All of these can result in customs delays and penalties.
All Riverside Pallet Co. heat-treated pallets are fully ISPM-15 compliant and carry the official IPPC stamp. If you need pallets for international shipping, just let us know and we'll ensure full compliance.