What are ISPM 15 and Fumigation?

WOOD PACKING RESTRICTIONS - ISPM15 RULES (as a guide only)

New regulations have now been implemented with regards to prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases throughout the world when shipping cargo using wood packing materials (including dunnage). These regulations have been originated from the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC - www.ippc.int) and known worldwide as ISPM 15 rules. ISPM 15 rules international shipments containing wood packaging material such as pallets, crates, dunnages, drums, wood cases etc.

ISPM 15 requires that all shipments using any species of raw wood packaging must be fumigated or heat treated to kill insects or fungus and stamped with the approved stamp, before goods are allowed entry or crossing through a participating country.

Here are examples of a stamps used on pallets to indicate ISPM 15 compliance.

The stamps show customs that all solid wood packaging material has been treated to meet the ISPM 15 requirements. Non-compliance can be a serious problem. Customs can turn back, repackage or destroy items that do not meet the ISPM 15 standards. For example, the United States standard requires immediate re-export of non-compliant products with no exceptions. Delays and costs will be the responsibility of the shipper of record.

AVOIDING PROBLEMS RELATED TO ISPM 15

Important to understand that basically the ISPM 15 regulates shipments containing NON-MANUFACTURED WOOD PACKING MATERIALS (NWPM) – also called solid wood packing material or SWPM, and defined as "wood packing other than that comprised wholly of wood-based products such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board, veneer, wood wool, etc., which has been created using glue, heat, and pressure or a combination thereof.”

THE EASIEST WAY TO AVOID POSSIBLE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE ISPM 15 IS DO NOT USE NWPM. PACK YOUR CARGO WITH CARDBOARD, PLYWOOD, VENEER ETC ONLY or DO NOT USE WOOD IN YOUR PACKING AT ALL. USE PLASTIC SHIPPING SUPPLIES.

Here are some more details:

Shipping loose cardboards boxes complies with ISPM 15 regulations. You may order cardboards boxes via our website.

Use ONLY ISPM 15 certified and stamped wooden pallets and crates.

Wood packaging even wholly made 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.

Using packing materials that do not contain wood makes your shipment an exemption from ISPM 15 regulations. Plastic pallets cases and crates of different sizes and forms are widely available on the market.

The ISPM 15 regulations break down into two key areas – export and treatment documents. Exactly how many documents are required varies from country to country.

If you self-pack a shipment using wood packing materials, you should find out the precise ISPM 15 requirements by contacting a related officials (customs for example) at your destination or the destination country local consulate.

If you hire a professional packing company or a carriers ship terminal palletizes your boxes, then parties that take care of your cargo should be aware of and comply with the ISPM 15 regulations.