ISPM 15 governs treating and marking wood packaging — pallets, crates, dunnage — used in international trade by an approved method. Treating the cargo or container itself against pests with a gas is a separate fumigation. The two need different documents, methods and authorisations.
Two different needs
'Fumigation' appears often in shipping documents, but it usually means one of two different treatments: treating wood packaging under ISPM 15, or fumigating the cargo or container. Knowing which you need avoids unnecessary cost and problems at customs.
What ISPM 15 covers
ISPM 15 is a standard published under the IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention). To stop wood packaging spreading pests in international trade, it requires solid-wood packaging to be treated by an approved method and stamped with a standard mark.
- In scope: solid-wood packaging such as pallets, crates, frames, chocks and dunnage.
- Out of scope: processed wood such as plywood, OSB and particleboard, and thin wood below the thickness set in the standard.
- The mark: IPPC symbol, country code, producer/treatment-provider code and treatment code (e.g. HT).
Cargo or container fumigation
Some commodities — agricultural products, for example — or destination rules may require the cargo itself to be fumigated against pests. The substance, dose and exposure time are set by an authorised operator for the commodity and pest. The IMO's IMDG Code sets warning-mark and information rules for fumigated transport units.
When checking the certificate
- Does the treatment type match the need (wood packaging or cargo)?
- Is the operator authorised, and is their code on the certificate?
- Are the treatment date and method consistent with the shipment?
- Is the ISPM 15 mark on the wood legible?
Fumigation is an activity that requires authorisation. This article is general information; treatment decisions should be taken with an authorised operator and the competent authority.
Frequently asked questions
Does a plywood crate need an ISPM 15 mark?
Plywood is out of scope, but solid-timber skids and chocks in the crate are covered.
Is heat treatment the same as fumigation?
No. Heat treatment (HT) is a chemical-free ISPM 15 method; fumigation uses an active substance in gas form.
