Some countries have restrictions on certain types of wood packing materials to prevent the spread of pests like the pinewood nematode, a microscopic eelworm, and the Asian long-horn beetle that have caused extensive damage to trees in China, Japan and the USA. In order to protect their forests and trees a number of countries have enacted regulations under the ISPM15 guidelines to control the import of wood packing.
Please note: the following information is provided as a guide only.
Plans for implementing ISPM 15 are continually changing. Individual country implementation dates may change without notice. It is the responsibility of the exporter to determine and comply with the importing country requirements at the time of export.
The restrictions on wood packing vary from country to country. We have compiled the standards for each country and hope you find them quite useful.
The following list of non-wood packaging have no restrictions as of March 01, 2005 in any country: cardboard, plastic pallets, plastic containers, and plastic crates (must be clean & free of dirt). We recommend to visit our .
For commercial and high-volume exporters we recommend Royal Fumigation (www.royalpest.com / Royal Group 302-322-3600). Royal Fumigation is full service Fumigation Company with various locations around the United States.
WOOD PACKING SPECIFICATIONS BY COUNTRY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Where can I purchase compliant wood packing materials (pallets, skids & crates)?
Call your local shipping supply vendor or we recommend the following web based providers.
2. Where can I purchase compliant non-wood packing materials?
Plastic Cases
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Plastic Cases
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Plastic Containers
Target
Walmart |
3. What is conifer wood?
Conifer wood is wood that comes from predominately evergreen or cone-bearing trees, such as pine, spruce, hemlock, or fir.
4. What is the IPPC?
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IPPC Summary - The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), a unit of the United Nations, passed a worldwide standard for international wood shipments on March 15, 2002. The standard requires pallets to be heat treated or fumigated to a specified standard and marked with the ISPM 15 stamp (Not all countries have adopted).
5. Where can I find the ISPM15/International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures Publication15?
Summary - Here are two of the more important paragraphs that appear in the ISPM15 dated March 2002, under the Regulatory Requirements section, Part 2 Regulated Wood Packaging Material. These guidelines are for coniferous and non-coniferous raw wood packaging material that may serve as a pathway for plant pests posing a threat mainly to living trees. They cover wood packaging material such as pallets, dunnage, crating, packing blocks, drums, cases, load boards, pallet collars, and skids which can be present in almost any imported consignment, including consignments which would not normally be the target of phytosanitary inspection.
Wood packaging made wholly of wood-based products such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer that have been created using glue, heat and pressure or a combination thereof should be considered sufficiently processed to have eliminated the risk associated with the raw wood. It is unlikely to be infested by raw wood pests during its use and therefore should not be regulated for these pests.
6. Where can I obtain additional information?
Contact the or the for information pertaining to respective official treatment and marking requirements.
7. Where can I view the country by country notifications to the World Trade Organization?
to view notifications made under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement. | 
