What is ISPM No. 15 and Which Countries Require ISPM?

Ensuring compliance with ISPM 15 requires first understanding what kinds of packaging are required to meet this standard. Types of packaging that fall under ISPM 15 regulations include wooden packing cases, boxes, crates, pallets, dunnage, spools, reels, and cable drums. Types of packaging that are NOT required to adhere to ISPM 15 standards include:

• Packaging entirely made of processed wood material created using any combination of glue, heat, and pressure, including plywood, particle board, oriented strand board, and veneer
• Packaging made entirely from wood 6mm in width or thinner
• Barrels for wine and spirits that have been heated as part of the manufacturing process
• Wood shavings, wood wool, or sawdust
• Gift boxes made for cigars, wine, or similar commodities that have been treated as part of their manufacture
• Wood components that are permanently attached to freight vehicles or shipping containers

Certification requires the regulated types of wood packaging be sterilized against pests and pathogens either by heat treating or methyl bromide fumigation. Heat treating can be performed in a few different ways, including a standard heat chamber, a kiln, or a specialized microwave chamber. Regardless of the method, the temperature at the core of the lumber must reach 56° Celsius (133° F) and remain at that temperature for at least 30 minutes. It is critical for the temperature reading be taken from the core of the wood, as that is where destructive parasites and pests generally reside.

Methyl bromide fumigation requires that the wood be placed in a sealed container or tent, which is then completely flooded with methyl bromide gas, and remains there for at least 24 hours. While effective against invasive pests, this type of treatment is gradually being phased out due to concerns about the gas having the potential to contaminate the goods shipped using the treated packaging, especially food products.

Since the introduction of ISPM 15 regulations in 2003, more than 70 countries worldwide have adopted the requirements, with that list continuing to grow each year. Even if the destination country for a shipment does not require ISPM 15 compliance, it is considered good practice to use ISPM 15 certified wood packaging regardless, to avoid any potential issues at international border crossings. Some countries have additional regulatory standards, including the requirement that all lumber used in the construction of wood packaging be bark-free, which has a specific definition under ISPM 15 regulation, and requires that any bark remaining in the wane sections of the lumber used in the construction of wood packaging be removed prior to shipment. If you are uncertain of the requirements imposed by a destination country, contact the plant health authority of that nation.

When shipments are discovered to contain wood packaging that is not ISPM compliant, the response depends on the destination country, as each government has its own policies. Some countries will deny the shipment outright and require its return to the shipment’s point of origin. Others may fumigate the entire package, including its contents, and charge the shipper a premium rate for the trouble. Some countries replace the non-compliant packaging, charging a premium rate for the replacement, and send back the replaced materials. In some cases, non-compliant shipments have been incinerated or dumped in a landfill.

Common queries about ISPM 15 compliance include situations wherein shipping companies wish to build their own wood packaging from properly treated lumber, or have ISPM 15 marked wood packaging that they wish to reuse, repair, or modify. The first case is a difficult one; because the ISPM 15 marking is a certification for finished wood packaging materials, there is no way to simply buy “ISPM 15 certified lumber” and manufacture the packaging yourself. To guarantee the integrity of the certification mark, the IPPC only licenses the use of the mark to registered wood packaging production facilities. This allows the finished piece to be stamped, stenciled, or branded with the IPPC certification mark (generally on at least two opposing sides of the packaging). In theory, one could construct a new pallet or crate out of individual pieces of lumber that each have the IPPC mark, but this is generally not feasible from the perspective of either the packaging manufacturer or the customs official inspecting the package.