What is ISPM15 and who needs to comply?

The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM15) is a regulation which helps to prevent the spread of pests, insects and diseases that may be carried in wooden materials (like pallets). It means that pallets must be treated with heat before they move into another country.

Your shipment will need to comply with the ISPM15 regulation if it is crossing international borders. If you don’t comply, then you could face delays at customs, fines, or even return or destruction of the non-compliant wood packaging materials. 

Thankfully, the onus is not on you. All you need to do is tell us where your shipment is heading, and we’ll supply the correct heat-treated pallets for you. 

What is the IPPC?

ISPM15 was brought in by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). 

It’s not everyday that you come across the IPPC, so as a brief introduction, it’s an intergovernmental treaty established in 1951. The reason for the treaty is to protect the world’s plants, agricultural products, and natural resources from plant pests.

185 countries have ratified the IPPC, and by doing so they have committed to applying the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). These measures are designed to safeguard global food security, facilitate safe trade, and protect the environment. 

Why is ISPM15 necessary? 

When you move wooden materials (like pallets) from one country to another, there’s a risk of introducing tree pests, insects, or diseases to new areas. This could potentially harm the ecosystem of that area. 

To combat this risk, wood materials that are more than 6mm thick (like pallets) must be treated with heat before they are shipped cross-borders. ISPM15 creates a framework to effectively sanitise the wood.

How we are ISPM15 compliant

In order to comply with the regulations, our wooden pallets must be heated to 56 degrees celsius, for at least 30 minutes (continuously).

This can be done by kiln-drying, heat-enabled chemical pressure impregnation, or microwave. At Robinson Pallets we use kiln dried

Once treated, the pallets are marked with the ISPM logo, and a unique number. This acts as a seal of compliance, or the IPPC Stamp. That’s usually sufficient to satisfy customs and allow your shipment to continue without any further investigation.

We can also provide you with an IPPC Certificate if you need one. To find out whether or not it’s necessary, check with your shipping agent.

Pallets we supply 

Not all of our pallets are heat treated. The ones we most commonly supply are:

• Grade 1 Perimeter Base, 1200 x 1000 heat treated
• Grade 1 Stamped Euro 1200 x 800 heat treated

These are usually sufficient for shipments around Europe and internationally. But if you need a specific type of pallet for your load, we can make sure that it is properly heat treated for you.

How we can help

If you’re not sure whether or not you need heat-treated pallets, feel free to pick up the phone and have a chat with us. You can call us on 01376 516 742 or email us at sale@robinsonspalletservices.com.