ISPM15

The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures Publication No 15 - Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging in International Trade is known as ISPM15. 

ISPM15 has been developed to address the global spread of timber pests, by regulating the movement of timber packaging and dunnage used in International Trade. 

ISPM15 was developed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and addresses plant quarantining through the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). This is an international treaty administered by the FAO and implemented through cooperation of member governments. In NZ this is administered by the NZ Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).

ISPM15 applies to raw soft and hard wood packaging material, including dunnage, packing blocks, pallets  and other wood products used to secure cargo or a commodity. 

ISPM15 compliant wood packaging has been heat treated or fumigated, and bears an internationally recognised certification mark. 

ISPM15 does not apply to manufactured timber products such as plywood, MDF, chipboard etc. 

Manufacturers must be approved by MPI (MAO)  to apply the certification mark (stamp) and are regularly audited. Each manufacturer is identified using a number and country of origin on the mark enabling traceability of wood packaging to its source. 

Exporters or consumers using noncompliant wood packaging or dunnage risk rejection at international ports, resulting in fumigation, destruction or ‘return to origin’ of the consignment, at considerable cost.