10 April 2025
This guide will give you all the information you need to know about ISPM 15. This is the regulation that requires heat treatment for wooden pallets, also known as pest control. ISPM 15 regulations will apply to all wooden pallets and boxes. Read on to learn all about ISPM 15.
What is ISPM 15?
ISPM 15 stands for the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No.15. They are a set of regulations which were set up to help prevent the spread of pests and diseases through the use of wood in packaging materials used in international trade. Any wood material thicker than 6mm used for shipping products between countries is subject to the regulation.
The Government guidelines state:
“If you import or export any goods using WPM or supply WPM to businesses, you need to follow the rules to meet ISPM15 international standards from 1 January 2021. This is so you can move WPM between Great Britain (GB) – England, Scotland and Wales – and other countries, including EU member states and Switzerland.”
Why are wooden pallets heat-treated?
One of the main approaches taken to become ISPM 15 compliant is through heat treatment. Heat treatment is an officially approved approach which meets the ISPM 15 regulations. This is because the treatment successfully eliminates over 13 pests, showing the effectiveness of heat treatment in eradicating harmful insects from wooden pallets and boxes.
Markings on heat treated pallets
Pallets that have been through the ISPM 15 process will be stamped with an authentication mark that is recognised worldwide. There are four main parts to this code to ensure the wooden pallet or wooden box is ISPM 15 compliant.
IPPC Logo – This does what it says on the tin and is the IPPC logo which is the marking of IPPC with an ear of corn next to it.
Country code – This is a two-letter International Standards Organisation country code. So, for pallets from Great Britain, it would be GB.
Certification number – This part of the code is a certification number. This code identifies the regulator in charge of the process and can help identify the manufacturer of the pallet or the organisation that treated it.
Treatment letters – These two letters tell you how this pallet has been treated. If it has had a compliant heat treatment, it will bear the letters HT.
Partner with a ISPM 15 compliant pallet pooling company
At IPP, we provide a pallet pool service to eliminate waste and empty miles, reduce costs and complexity, and accelerate every aspect of the supply chain journey. The pallets and boxes within our pool are compliant with ISPM 15. If you would like to learn more about how we could partner with you then please contact us.