Packaging covered
Regulated material can include pallets, crates, boxes, pallet collars and dunnage made from raw solid wood. Certain processed wood materials and thin wood are outside the scope of the standard.
ISPM15 explained
What Is ISPM15? A Guide for UK Export Pallet Users
A practical explanation of the international wood-packaging standard, what the mark means and how it applies to pallet users in Great Britain.
Heat treated palletsExport packagingNationwide delivery
What ISPM15 covers
ISPM15 is the international standard for reducing the risk of quarantine pests moving between countries in solid wood packaging material.
Treatment and marking
Approved treatment must be applied under the relevant national programme. Compliant packaging carries the IPPC mark with the required country, registration and treatment information.
ISPM15 requirements for Great Britain
UK government guidance states that solid wood packaging used for many movements to or from Great Britain must meet ISPM15 requirements. Since the rules can differ for Northern Ireland and may change as UK-EU arrangements develop, businesses should verify the current guidance for the exact route before dispatch.
ISPM15 and kiln drying
Heat treatment and kiln drying serve different purposes. Kiln drying can be used as the process that achieves the approved HT schedule, but an ordinary moisture-reduction claim by itself is not proof of ISPM15 compliance.
Why the IPPC mark matters
The mark provides a standardised way for authorities and supply-chain partners to identify the country, the approved producer or treatment provider and the treatment code. In Great Britain, producers applying ISPM15 marks must participate in the relevant marking programme and meet the Forestry Commission requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does ISPM15 apply to every wooden item in a shipment?
No. ISPM15 is specifically concerned with regulated wood packaging material. Processed wood products such as plywood and certain other excluded materials are outside the standard.
Is 56°C for 30 minutes measured only at the kiln air temperature?
No. For conventional heat treatment, the requirement is that the minimum temperature is achieved for the required continuous duration throughout the entire profile of the wood, including the core.
Can I use an ISPM15 treatment certificate instead of the mark?
UK guidance states that compliant wood packaging must carry the required ISPM15 mark and that certification is not a substitute for that mark.