GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Wood Packaging ISPM 15

The moment wood packaging material – pallets, crates, dunnage – enters international trade, ISPM 15 applies: the standard adopted by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) specifies how wood packaging must be treated and marked to prevent the spread of forest pests such as the Asian longhorn beetle.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.ippc.int/en/publications/640/

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Definition & Explanation

The moment wood packaging material – pallets, crates, dunnage – enters international trade, ISPM 15 applies: the standard adopted by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) specifies how wood packaging must be treated and marked to prevent the spread of forest pests such as the Asian longhorn beetle. Approved treatment methods are heat treatment (core temperature of at least 56 °C for a minimum of 30 minutes) and methyl bromide fumigation; both must be carried out by an accredited organisation. Every treated piece must bear the standardised ISPM 15 mark – permanently applied and showing country code, producer number, and treatment code. Missing or illegible marks routinely lead to port-of-entry rejection, return shipment, or destruction at the exporter's expense, making compliance a critical step in export preparation.

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