1. Why a pallet can affect the whole shipment
A clean-looking wooden pallet can still carry wood-boring insects or other quarantine pests. When packaging moves between countries, those organisms may reach forests and crops where they do not naturally occur. ISPM 15 addresses this pathway by setting out phytosanitary measures for raw-wood packaging used in international trade, including the loose wood that supports cargo. The purpose is to reduce pest risk. It is not a guarantee that the wood is sterile or permanently protected from reinfestation. Check the destination requirements before packing, rather than treating the mark as a detail to fix after the container has left.
2. Fumigation and heat treatment are different
Fumigation uses an approved fumigant under a controlled treatment programme. Heat treatment uses a specified heating process. Both can be approved pathways, but heat treatment is not chemical fumigation. The standard includes HT for conventional heat treatment, DH for dielectric heating, MB for methyl bromide fumigation and SF for sulphuryl fluoride fumigation. These codes identify the process applied; they are not quality grades or interchangeable labels. The appropriate provider must follow the relevant schedule and the destination must accept the treatment. Do not select a process simply because a social-media post calls every compliant wooden crate “fumigated.”
3. Inspect every solid-wood component
Typical regulated items include solid-wood pallets, crates, packing cases, skids, support blocks and dunnage. The hidden parts matter as much as the visible panels. A plywood crate may have raw-wood runners underneath or solid timber bracing inside. That combination does not become wholly exempt merely because the outer wall is plywood. Ask the supplier to identify the material used for the base, corners, runners and internal supports. Photograph these components before they are covered by the cargo. Where ISPM 15 applies, use appropriately treated, debarked and marked packaging from an authorized supplier; ordinary clean or kiln-dried timber is not proof of compliance by itself.
4. Understand the exemptions correctly
Packaging made entirely from qualifying processed wood, such as plywood, particle board or oriented strand board manufactured using glue, heat or pressure, is outside the standard’s raw-wood treatment requirements. Packaging made entirely from thin wood 6 mm or less is also exempt under ISPM 15. The word entirely matters: thicker raw-wood additions need their own assessment. Plastic, metal and paper packaging are not raw-wood packaging. However, an ISPM 15 exemption is not a universal import approval. Cleanliness, contamination, commodity-specific rules and the destination’s other biosecurity conditions may still apply. Choose packaging that also supports the load and protects the product.
5. Read the mark as traceability information
A valid ISPM 15 mark brings together the IPPC symbol, a two-letter country code, an authorized producer or treatment-provider code, and the treatment code. CN identifies China in the country field; it does not identify the final destination or certify the goods inside. The provider code allows the responsible operation to be traced through the official system. The mark should be applied by an authorized operator, not copied from an example on the internet. Our diagram separates these information fields for learning. It is deliberately not an IPPC stamp template and cannot be used as certification.
6. Check visibility before wrapping
The mark must be legible, durable and non-transferable, and it must not be hand-drawn. The international standard calls for a visible location, preferably on at least two opposite sides. Red and orange should be avoided because of their use in dangerous-goods labelling; national schemes may impose additional requirements. Check marks before covering the packaging with opaque wrapping, labels or straps. A treatment invoice or a photograph is useful supporting information, but neither replaces the required mark on regulated packaging. If a mark is missing, unclear or damaged, ask the authorized supplier to resolve it before dispatch.
7. Reused packaging still needs an inspection
An old mark does not make every later repair compliant. Replacing boards or adding untreated blocks can change the status of an otherwise compliant unit. Ask the supplier how repaired or remanufactured packaging has been assessed under the relevant scheme. Inspect for live insects, exit holes, fresh insect debris, soil and other contamination. Keep packaging protected after treatment and avoid adding loose unverified wood during loading. If pests or a suspect repair are found, isolate the packaging and contact the supplier or a qualified professional. Treatment reduces the original risk; it does not remove the need for checks later.
8. Confirm the route and keep a packing record
Requirements are set by the importing authority and may also matter in transit. Before booking, give your forwarder and importer the destination, goods description, packing materials and clear photos of the complete packaging and marks. Ask whether any declarations or supporting documents are needed for that route. Noncompliant packaging can lead to delay, refusal of entry, re-export, destruction or an authorized remedy, depending on local rules and the finding. There is no universal promise that arrival fumigation will solve the problem. Keep the supplier details and a short packing record linked to the shipment so a question can be answered without guessing.
9. A simple example: look underneath the crate
Imagine two export crates with the same plywood walls. The first is entirely made of qualifying processed wood. The second has thick raw-wood runners underneath. Their appearance from the front may be almost identical, but their ISPM 15 assessment can differ. Start with a component list, not a marketing description such as “fumigation-free box.” Record the wall material, base material, internal braces and any loose blocking. Then confirm the applicable requirement with the supplier and the receiving side. This small check is easier while the empty crate is still accessible than after a heavy machine has been secured inside.
Before you ship
- Confirm the destination and any transit requirements before ordering packaging.
- List every material, including hidden runners, braces and loose dunnage.
- For regulated wood, verify the authorized supplier, treatment and readable marks.
- Check for pests and contamination; keep marks visible after packing.
- Keep photos and supplier details with the shipment record; resolve doubts before dispatch.
Official references
- IPPC · ISPM 15 standard and scope ↗
- Australian DAFF · Materials, treatment codes and reuse ↗
- US CBP · Mixed materials and wood packaging ↗
- MPI New Zealand · Export packaging and exemptions ↗
- IPPC · Explanatory document, marking (hosted by Julius Kühn Institute) ↗
- USDA APHIS · Inspection and noncompliance ↗
- Canadian CFIA · Entry requirements and treatment codes ↗
- Australian DAFF · Export FAQs and destination checks ↗
Reviewed 31 October 2026. This is an introductory guide; the destination authority and the applicable treatment scheme determine the requirements for a shipment.
DHL
UPS
FedEx
TNT
DPD
ARAMEX
USPS
Purolator
YAMATO · 黑猫宅急便
GLS
Royal Mail
YunExpress · 云途
COMONE EXPRESS
SF Express · 顺丰
China Post · 中国邮政
EMS
KYE · 跨越速运
J&T Express · 极兔
货拉拉 · Huolala
Cainiao · 菜鸟
GOFO
UniUni
4PX · 递四方
Matson · 美森
MAERSK
MSC
CMA CGM
COSCO SHIPPING
EVERGREEN
ONE · Ocean Network Express