ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is a global regulation established by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It governs all wooden packaging material (WPM) used in international trade — including pallets, crates, boxes, dunnage, and skids.
The regulation was introduced to prevent the international spread of invasive insects and plant diseases that can live inside raw timber. Non-compliant wooden packaging is routinely seized and destroyed at international ports — causing massive delays, financial losses, and supply chain disruption.
Erawat Enterprise is NPPO-registered and fully certified to produce ISPM 15 compliant wooden packaging — protecting your exports from costly compliance failures.
Non-compliant wooden packaging is confiscated at the border. Your cargo cannot proceed until the packaging is replaced or destroyed on-site.
Demurrage charges, re-packaging costs, lost contracts, and damaged relationships with overseas buyers. The financial impact can be severe.
Vessels sail without your cargo. Containers sit at port. Production lines shut down at the destination. Every day of delay has a cost.
Export contracts often include delivery date guarantees. Compliance failures that cause delays can trigger penalty clauses and damage your reputation.
Two approved treatment methods — we offer both, with Heat Treatment as our primary method.
The timber is heated in a registered kiln until the core temperature reaches a minimum of 56°C and is maintained for at least 30 continuous minutes. This kills all insects, larvae, and eggs without using any chemicals.
The timber or finished packaging is placed in a sealed chamber and treated with methyl bromide gas (CH3Br) for a set time at specified concentrations to kill all live organisms.
Our Recommendation: Heat Treatment (HT) is the preferred method globally. It is chemical-free, broadly accepted, and increasingly mandated by importing countries. Erawat Enterprise uses Heat Treatment as our primary ISPM 15 compliance method.
Every ISPM 15 compliant piece of wooden packaging must carry the official IPPC mark (the wheat stalk symbol). The mark contains specific encoded information about where the packaging was produced and treated.
The mark is permanently stamped or branded directly onto the packaging — it cannot be a sticker, as stickers can be transferred to non-compliant packaging.
Official IPPC Mark Example
Actual mark includes the registered IPPC wheat symbol on the left sideAll incoming timber is inspected and logged. Moisture content is measured to ensure optimal treatment penetration.
Packaging is manufactured to specification, ready for heat treatment. Manufacturing and treatment are integrated at our facility.
Finished packaging is loaded into our registered heat-treatment kilns. Internal temperature probes are positioned for accurate core temperature measurement.
Kiln temperature is raised to 56°C core temperature and maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes. All parameters are logged electronically.
After treatment, each unit is permanently marked/branded with the official IPPC symbol and our treatment code.
Treatment logs, certificates, and compliance documentation are provided to the client for customs clearance submissions.
ISPM 15 applies to all wooden packaging material (WPM) used in international trade, including pallets, crates, boxes, dunnage, skids, and load boards. It does not apply to processed wood products like plywood, particle board, or MDF — as the manufacturing process eliminates pest risk. However, unprocessed timber and sawn wood in packaging must comply. Consult us if you are unsure whether your packaging requires treatment.
Over 180 countries worldwide have adopted ISPM 15 as a mandatory import requirement. This includes all major trading nations: the USA, EU member states, UK, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, UAE, and most of Southeast Asia and Africa. If you are shipping internationally, you should assume ISPM 15 compliance is required unless you have specific confirmation otherwise.
Yes — we offer third-party treatment services for wooden packaging manufactured elsewhere. Bring your pallets, crates, or boxes to our facility and we will perform ISPM 15 heat treatment and apply the IPPC mark. Please contact us in advance to arrange scheduling, as our treatment kilns operate on a planned batching schedule.
Once treated and marked, the compliance is permanent — the mark remains valid as long as the packaging is not repaired with untreated wood. However, if the packaging is significantly repaired or modified using new wood, the new wood must also be treated and the packaging re-marked. Our treatment certificates bear the treatment date for your records.
With every ISPM 15 certified order you receive: (1) Heat Treatment Certificate with treatment date, kiln temperature logs, and our NPPO registration details; (2) Invoice and packing list clearly specifying ISPM 15 compliance; (3) Treatment logs for each batch. These documents support your Phytosanitary Certificate application from the Plant Quarantine authorities if required by the destination country.
ISPM 15 is strictly an international trade requirement. For domestic shipments within India, there is no legal mandate to use ISPM 15 certified packaging. However, some clients choose to use it for domestic shipments to maintain consistent packaging standards across their supply chain and to keep packaging available for use in both domestic and export orders.
Get a customised wooden packaging quote within 24 hours — ISPM 15 certified & engineered to your specs.