Compliance

ISPM-15: The Complete Guide to Heat-Treated Packaging

Understanding international export compliance and pest prevention in wood packaging.

ISPM-15: The Complete Guide to Heat-Treated Packaging

What is ISPM-15?

International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM-15) is an international phytosanitary measure developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that directly addresses the need to treat wood materials of a thickness greater than 6mm, used to ship products between countries.

The Core Requirements

The main purpose of ISPM-15 is to prevent the international transport and spread of disease and insects that could negatively affect plants or ecosystems. It affects all wood packaging material (pallets, crates, dunnages, etc.) requiring that they be debarked and then heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and stamped or branded with a mark of compliance.

  • Heat Treatment (HT): Wood must be heated until its core temperature reaches 56°C for at least 30 minutes.
  • Dielectric Heating (DH): Using microwaves or radio waves to reach 60°C.
  • SF (Sulfuryl Fluoride) or MB (Methyl Bromide) fumigation.
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