The ISPM 15 standard for wooden packaging

Due to the usually very long transport routes, the export goods are exposed to strong stresses as a result of frequent loading. Folding wooden crates and wooden containers are therefore particularly suitable for adequate protection, as they are very robust and stable. However, not all wooden packaging is suitable for export; it must meet special standards.

ISPM 15 against pest infestation

Wooden containers in particular are often made from raw wood, which can be infested with pests and thus pose a real threat to domestic forest stands. For this reason, the ISPM 15 standard applies to export packaging made of solid wood in many countries. If a packaging bears the ISPM 15 stamp, the packaging wood has been freed from pests by appropriate treatment. The verification of this standard is carried out by the respective National Plant Protection Organisations (NPPOs) in the importing and exporting countries. They control the application of the correct wood treatment, the use of the ISPM 15 stamp and its application by the producer/handler.

What does ISPM 15 Standard mean

ISPM 15 is a phytosanitary standard, i.e. a standard concerning plants, which was agreed by the FAO(United Nations Foodand Agriculture Organizations) within the framework of the International Plant Protection Convention(IPPC). In order to harmonise the many different import regulations in the various countries, the “International Standardsfor Phytosanitary Measures” ( ISPM 15 ) were adopted in March 2002 for the international shipment of solid wood packaging. These standards describe measures to reduce the risk of introduction or spread of wood pests in connection with wood packaging and thus protect native forest stands. The ISPM 15 standard applies throughout the EU and in 84 other countries such as China, the USA and Australia. A complete ISPM 15 country list can be found on the homepage of the Julius Kühn Institute for Plant Health, which is responsible for the health of native plants in Germany.

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What does the ISPM 15 standard include?

The ISPM 15 standard only applies to solid wood packaging that is thicker than 6 mm. Wood packaging that is thinner than 6 mm or has been glued, heated or pressed during its processing, such as chipboard, plywood and veneer, does not need to be treated, nor does packaging made from wood wool and sawdust. They have already been exposed to very high heat during their manufacture.

For the ISPM 15 certificate, the wood packaging must be treated accordingly. This can be done by heat treatment at a core temperature of 56 °C (133 ° F) for at least 30 minutes or by fumigation with methyl bromide. Chemical pressure impregnation (CPI) is only recognised if the required temperatures are achieved. The packaging then receives the ISPM 15 stamp. This must be applied permanently and legibly on two opposite sides and must contain the following information:

IPPC symbol

The symbol must always be placed to the left of the other information.

Ländercode

This must be the international ISO country code with two letters: e.g. DE for Germany.

Erzeuger-/Behandlercode

This is a uniform code assigned to the producer or handler of the wood packaging material. The number and arrangement of the codes or letters are assigned by the NPPOs. In some countries, for example, this includes region codes, e.g. BW for Baden-Württemberg. In the case of wood packaging produced in Germany, the registration numbers assigned always begin with “49” as a sign that it is a registration in the “wood” sector.

Der Behandlungscode

It is an abbreviation of the IPPC for the treatment method used and must be on a separate line or separated from the rest of the information by a hyphen.

Treatment code	Treatment type
HT	Heat treatment
MB	Methyl bromide (manufacturers in the EU are no longer allowed to use this type of treatment since 2010, but packaging with this treatment method may still be imported)
CPI	Chemical pressure impregnation

In older wood packaging, the additional indication DB for debarked is often found. In the meantime, however, debarking has become an obligatory measure, so this marking is no longer necessary.

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Shippers in the responsibility

The consignor must make sure that the imported packaging complies with the provisions of the ISPM 15 standard. If the marking is missing, customs may even refuse the goods. For RAJA’s wooden packaging that bears the ISPM 15 stamp, such as a large part of our wooden pallets, you can of course obtain the corresponding export certificates on request.