Custom Wood Pallets & Skids by Ongna Wood Products

The International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) are guidelines developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to help protect plants and plant products from pests and diseases. These standards are designed to facilitate safe international trade and prevent the introduction and spread of harmful pests that could threaten agriculture and the environment. The key aspects of ISPMs include:

• Pest Risk Analysis (PRA): Methods to evaluate the risk of pest introduction and spread and determine appropriate phytosanitary measures to manage those risks.
• Phytosanitary Import Requirements: Guidelines for the United States and other countries to establish requirements for the importation of plants, plant products, and other regulated articles to reduce the risk of pest introduction via the supply chain.
• Export Certification: Standards for the certification of plants, plant products, and other regulated articles for export to confirm that they meet the importing country's phytosanitary requirements.
• Pest Surveillance: Protocols for the detection, monitoring, and reporting of pest occurrences to ensure early detection and rapid response to new pest incursions.
• Pest Eradication and Management: Guidelines for eradicating or managing pests that have been introduced or detected to prevent their spread and establishment.
• Phytosanitary Treatments: Standards for treatments such as fumigation, heat treatment, and irradiation to eliminate pests from plants and plant products.
• Phytosanitary Measures for Regulated Articles: Specific guidelines for the safe movement of transported goods and regulated articles, such as wood packaging material, to prevent the spread of pests.
• Diagnosis of Pests: Methods and procedures for the accurate identification of pests to ensure proper phytosanitary measures are applied.

The implementation of these standards helps countries to protect their agricultural and natural resources while promoting safe international trade. The ISPMs are periodically updated and revised to address emerging threats and incorporate advancements in science and technology.

See All ISPM Standards

ISPM 15 is one of the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It specifically addresses the treatment of wood packaging material (WPM) used in international trade to prevent the spread of pests that could be carried in such materials. Here are the key elements of ISPM 15:

• Scope: ISPM 15 applies to wood packaging material such as pallets, crates, dunnage, and spools made from raw wood. It does not apply to wood packaging made entirely of processed wood products like plywood, particle board, or oriented strand board.
• Approved Treatments:
  • Heat Treatment (HT): Wood packaging material must be heated to achieve a minimum core temperature of 56°C for at least 30 minutes.
  • Methyl Bromide Fumigation (MB): Wood packaging material must be fumigated with methyl bromide according to specified conditions (although this treatment is being phased out in many countries due to environmental concerns).
• Marking: Treated wood packaging material must be marked with a specific IPPC symbol to certify that it has been treated according to ISPM 15 standards. The mark includes:
  • The IPPC symbol.
  • The ISO two-letter country code.
  • A unique code is assigned to the treatment provider.
  • An abbreviation indicating the treatment method (e.g., HT for heat treatment, MB for methyl bromide fumigation).
• Debarking: Wood packaging material must be made from debarked wood, although small pieces of bark may remain if they meet specific size limitations.
• Inspection and Compliance: National plant protection organizations (NPPOs) are responsible for ensuring that wood packaging materials meet ISPM 15 standards and for enforcing compliance.
• Re-treatment and Re-marking: If wood packaging material is repaired or recycled, it must be re-treated and re-marked in accordance with ISPM 15 standards.

The implementation of ISPM 15 helps reduce the risk of spreading invasive pests through wood packaging materials, thereby protecting forests and ecosystems worldwide. It also facilitates smoother international trade by providing a common standard for the treatment and certification of wood packaging materials.

When you need wood skids and pallets for shipping, you might not think about the type of wood you're using. However, some pallets can be dangerous if used in the wrong setting. So how do you choose the right pallet for your purpose? You have to decipher the stamped markings on the pallets.

Heat Treating Marks

HT Lumber Mark

The Heat Treated (HT) lumber marks indicate that individual solid wood raw material has met the minimum core temperature of 56°C (133°F) for 30 minutes.

ISPM 15 HT Marks

ISPM 15 certification marks indicate the items contain debarked solid wood material that has been recognized as meeting minimum core temperatures of 56°C (133°F) for 30 minutes.

ISPM 15 Finished Product Mark

The ISPM 15 Finished Product mark identifies assembled WPM (pallets, boxes, crates, etc.) as being heat-treated and debarked in compliance with ISPM 15.

ISPM 15 Dunnage Mark

The ISPM 15 Dunnage mark identifies wood dunnage (blocking, bracing, chocking, etc.) as being heat-treated and debarked in compliance with ISPM 15.