What Is ISPM 15?

For many organisations, that means using wooden packaging that complies with International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15, or ISPM 15. This international standard is one of the most important for wooden export packaging, applying to various forms of solid wood packaging such as wooden crates, cases, pallets, skids, and dunnage.

If you’re shipping internationally, you need to ensure you’re using appropriate and compliant packaging to avoid preventable delays, rejected shipments, and extra costs. In this article, we will take a closer look at what ISPM 15 is, why it is important, and how Trojan Crates can support businesses with high-quality, ISPM 15-compliant packaging solutions.

Shipping goods overseas is big business in the UK, with ports handling just under 430 million tonnes of freight in 2024. An estimated 80% of all consignments shipped internationally use some form of wood packing material, with raw wood providing a viable route for pests and invasive species to spread across the globe.

ISPM 15 is a global standard that aims to reduce the risk of pest spread by establishing quality standards for all solid wood packaging. This includes having the wood treated using an approved method and marking it with a stamp. This visibility makes it easy for border agencies and freight operators to assess packaging at a glance to ensure it is compliant with ISPM 15.

ISPM 15 is designed to mitigate this risk by establishing a common international approach to treating and marking solid wood packaging. For businesses, this standard is embedded in how they handle responsible international trade. By using compliant wooden crates, exporters can help protect the environment and reduce the risk of their own goods being held up at the border.

ISPM 15 targets all types of solid wood packaging material used in international trade. This includes:

• Wooden crates
• Wooden cases
• Wooden pallets
• Dunnage
• Skids
• Wooden packing blocks
• Load boards
• Cable drums

The standard typically applies to all solid wood packaging that uses raw wood above a certain thickness. Certain processed woods, such as plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and particleboard, are exempt. This is because of the way they are manufactured, which reduces the risk of pest contamination.

With that said, export packaging can include a blend of different materials. For example, a crate might incorporate processed panels affixed to solid timber bearers or frames. In those scenarios, any solid wooden element must comply with ISPM 15.

For a wooden crate to meet ISPM 15 standards, it must first be treated by an approved method and marked with the ISPM 15 stamp. This approach reduces the risk of pests surviving in the timber used for crates and other packaging solutions.

The most common way to treat solid wood to ISPM 15 standards is with heat. This method heats the wood to a specific temperature over a set period of time. Heat treatment reduces the risks of pests surviving in the timber, but the wood must reach 56°C for at least 30 minutes continuously, from the outside of the wood to the core.

Debarking is also an important part of ISPM 15 compliance. This process removes bark from the solid wood before it is used for packaging. Bark is a common habitat for a variety of insects and pests, so debarking is an effective way to mitigate the risk of pest spread in transit.

After treatment, the packaging is then stamped with the official ISPM 15 mark. This is usually stamped directly on the wood to display that the packaging has been properly treated to ISPM 15 standards. ISPM 15 does allow very small amounts of residual bark in limited circumstances, but the timber must meet the standard’s tolerance requirements.

The ISPM 15 stamp is visible proof that the wooden packaging has been treated and marked correctly. It provides a simple, effective way to assess pallets, crates, and other wooden packaging solutions at a glance. Compliant marks are standardised and typically include:

• The IPPC symbol
• A country code
• A unique producer or treatment provider number
• A treatment code, such as ‘HT’ for heat-treated

This mark needs to be clearly visible, applied correctly, and legible. This is important because the stamp is what border authorities and inspection teams look for when checking wooden packaging. If the mark is missing, unclear, or incorrectly applied, the packaging may be treated as non-compliant.

If you are a UK business that deals with international trade, there’s a good chance you may interact with ISPM 15. Using, producing, or supplying wood packaging material to move goods to or from the EU or internationally means you must meet the relevant international standards, including ISPM 15.

Since 1 January 2021, all wood packaging material moving between Great Britain and the EU must meet ISPM 15 standards, including treatment and marking. These requirements have already been in place for many international movements, so ISPM 15 has become a key consideration for any UK business exporting to European or global markets.

These requirements are particularly important for UK manufacturers, engineering firms, machinery exporters, and other companies that ship valuable or specialist goods overseas. For these businesses, the right crate is about more than just protecting goods in transit; it is part of the export process. If the packaging doesn’t meet the required standards, then shipments risk delays, inspections, and rejections.

Falling foul of ISPM 15 can cause all sorts of problems for exporters. Non-compliant wood packaging will be handled slightly differently based on its destination, route, and inspection outcome. Non-compliant wood packaging may be:

• Delayed at the border
• Subject to additional inspection
• Rejected
• Treated before release
• Re-exported
• Destroyed
• Replaced at the exporter’s expense

The cost of non-compliance with ISPM 15 extends beyond the price of the crate and its contents. Delays in shipment can impact delivery deadlines, storage charges, demurrage fees, unhappy customers, and serious reputational damage.

Looking at recent data from the Forestry Commission, it is clear how significant the consequences of using non-compliant wooden packaging can be. From April 2024 to March 2025, 84% of all intercepted non-compliant wood-based materials were destroyed in Great Britain, with only 16% being re-exported. 77% of the affected materials were found in solid wood packaging.

For exporters, these figures are a useful reminder that ISPM 15 should never be an afterthought. Using compliant packaging from the start is much easier than dealing with a rejected or delayed shipment down the road.

When exporting goods, choosing the right crate can make a significant difference to how safely and smoothly a shipment moves through the supply chain. A crate has two main jobs: to protect the product in transit and to support a smooth journey across the supply chain.

An ISPM 15-compliant wooden crate offers peace of mind that the packaging meets international standards. This, in turn, mitigates the risk of rejected, delayed, or destroyed shipments due to non-compliance. This is especially important when shipping:

• Heavy machinery
• Industrial components
• Engineering equipment
• Fragile goods
• High-value products
• Oversized or awkwardly shaped items
• Goods travelling by sea, air or road freight

In these scenarios, packaging failure or border delays can become incredibly costly. A well-designed crate protects goods in transit, while ISPM 15 compliance reduces the risk of avoidable disruption during international transit.

With extensive experience in export packaging dating back to 1979, Trojan Crates understands that wooden crates must meet the practical requirements of international trade. We manufacture wooden crates, pallets, cases, and other packaging solutions for commercial and industrial applications, including ISPM 15-compliant export packaging where required.

Our team can help you choose the right solution based on the size, weight, fragility, and destination of your goods. Whether you need a one-off export crate or a regular packaging solution for international shipments, we can provide practical guidance and robust wooden packaging designed around your requirements.

If you need export-ready wooden crates, speak to Trojan Crates about ISPM 15-compliant packaging built to protect your goods and support smoother, more reliable shipping.

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