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A single untreated pallet can hold up a whole container. I've seen shipments of perfectly compliant goods sit at an island wharf for days, then pay for fumigation or for the timber to be stripped out and destroyed, all because of one crate knocked together from offcuts. ISPM 15 is the reason, and it's one of the easiest compliance problems to avoid.
This guide explains what ISPM 15 requires, how to read the mark, what's exempt, how to buy compliant packaging in Australia, and what happens at Pacific borders when timber doesn't comply. For the wider biosecurity picture, see our complete guide to shipping to the Pacific Islands.
Key takeaways
- ISPM 15 is the international standard for solid wood packaging such as pallets, crates, skids and dunnage.
- Compliant timber must be debarked, treated by an approved method and marked with the IPPC certification mark.
- Plywood, particleboard, OSB and other processed wood, and timber 6 mm thick or less, are exempt.
- Importing countries generally won't accept a treatment certificate in place of the mark.
- In Australia, buy from manufacturers certified under the Australian Wood Packaging Certification Scheme.
What ISPM 15 is
ISPM 15 is International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15, adopted under the International Plant Protection Convention. It regulates wood packaging material in international trade because untreated timber can carry bark beetles, wood borers and other pests across borders. Most countries apply it, including Australia and the Pacific Island countries, and biosecurity authorities such as the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji specifically require ISPM 15 for timber used to pack goods in shipping containers.
It applies to raw softwood and hardwood packaging: pallets, crates, cases, boxes, skids, load boards, drums, cable reels and dunnage used to brace or support cargo.
What compliance requires
For timber packaging to comply, it must meet three conditions:
- Debarked. Irrespective of the treatment used, the timber must be made from debarked wood. Small, separate pieces of bark within strict limits are tolerated, but bark-covered timber isn't.
- Treated by an approved method, carried out by a certified treatment provider.
- Marked with the internationally recognised ISPM 15 certification mark.
Approved treatments
| Code | Treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HT | Heat treatment | Timber heated so its core reaches at least 56°C for 30 continuous minutes, in a kiln or heat chamber. The most widely used method. |
| DH | Dielectric heating | Heating using microwave or radio-frequency energy to a specified schedule. |
| MB | Methyl bromide fumigation | Still approved but discouraged in many countries because it depletes the ozone layer. |
| SF | Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation | A newer fumigant alternative to methyl bromide. |
Australia's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recognises all four under its certification scheme.
How to read the mark
The ISPM 15 mark is a rectangular stamp or brand, applied on at least two opposite sides of the packaging. It contains:
- The IPPC symbol, a stylised wheat ear
- The country code, AU for Australia
- A producer or treatment provider number unique to the certified facility
- The treatment code: HT, DH, MB or SF
Dunnage may carry a variant of the mark that identifies it as dunnage, but it must still be treated by an approved method.
The mark is what matters at the border. Australian Government guidance has long warned exporters that countries enforcing ISPM 15 won't accept fumigation or heat treatment certificates in place of the mark, even when the timber has been treated. A mark missing any component isn't considered compliant.
What's exempt
- Processed wood made with glue, heat or pressure, such as plywood, particleboard, oriented strand board and veneer
- Thin timber 6 mm thick or less
- Sawdust, wood wool and shavings used as packing material
- Wood permanently attached to freight vehicles and containers, such as container floors
A useful rule: if it's solid sawn timber thicker than 6 mm and it's packing, bracing or supporting your goods, it needs the mark. If you're unsure, switch to plywood, plastic or metal pallets and avoid the question altogether.
Buying compliant packaging in Australia
Australian treatment providers and wood packaging manufacturers are certified under the Australian Wood Packaging Certification Scheme (AWPCS), run by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Certified facilities are authorised to apply the ISPM 15 mark, and the department maintains lists of approved providers and of those whose approval has been withdrawn or suspended. Its ISPM 15 guidance explains the standard and the mark.
- Buy pallets and crates from an AWPCS-certified supplier and ask for the provider number.
- Check every piece carries a complete, legible mark before packing.
- Don't reuse old pallets of unknown origin, and don't build crates or bracing from untreated offcuts.
- If you make your own crates, use ISPM 15 marked timber or processed wood throughout.
- Dunnage and blocking inside the container need to comply too, a detail that's often missed.
What happens at Pacific borders
Island biosecurity officers check timber packaging as a matter of routine. Where packaging is unmarked, incorrectly marked, bark-covered or shows signs of pests, they can order it to be treated, removed and destroyed, or in serious cases the container to be re-exported. The importer pays for all of it, plus storage and container detention while it's sorted out.
In Papua New Guinea, NAQIA treats packaging material as a quarantine risk in its own right. See PNG biosecurity rules for what inspectors check. In Fiji, the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji requires ISPM 15 for timber packing in shipping containers.
Household moves and self-pack containers
Household moves are where ISPM 15 problems most often appear, because people improvise. A homemade crate for a mirror, an old pallet under the washing machine, or timber offcuts used to brace furniture can all cause a hold. Use cardboard, foam, blankets and plastic for protection, and if you need a crate, buy a certified one. Our guide to moving household goods to the Pacific Islands has more packing advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do plastic pallets need ISPM 15?
No. ISPM 15 applies only to solid wood packaging. Plastic, metal and processed wood pallets are outside its scope, though they must still be clean.
Is a heat treatment certificate enough without the stamp?
Generally not. Countries enforcing ISPM 15 look for the mark on the timber itself and won't accept a certificate in its place.
How long does ISPM 15 treatment last?
The treatment certifies that the timber was treated at the time. It doesn't make timber immune to later infestation, and packaging that has been repaired or remanufactured may need re-treatment and re-marking.
Does the timber in a container floor need treating?
No. Wood permanently fixed to containers and freight vehicles is exempt, though the container itself must still be clean.
How this guide was researched
This guide draws on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's ISPM 15 guidance and the Australian Wood Packaging Certification Scheme, the IPPC standard, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and NAQIA requirements, and the author's experience resolving packaging holds at Pacific ports. Requirements can change, so confirm details with your packaging supplier or the relevant authority.
Written by
Peyton Brown
Senior Editor of The Pennsy's Pacific shipping desk, with more than a decade in Pacific freight operations, documentation and customs coordination across Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
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