Export ISPM 15-Compliant Wood Packaging Material From the United States to Another Country
As an exporter, you need to know if the country you are exporting to requires wood packaging material (WPM) to be ISPM 15-compliant. If the country does, then you are responsible for complying with their ISPM 15 WPM requirements.
How To Obtain ISPM 15-Compliant WPM in the United States
APHIS and the WPM industry administer an export program to guarantee WPM compliance with trading countries’ import requirements. The program ensures certified treatment and marking of WPM for international trade, while maintaining the packaging material’s traceability.
There are three options for obtaining ISPM 15-compliant WPM in the United States:
Purchase
Purchase heat-treated or fumigated WPM that bears the ISPM 15 mark. To find sources of compliant WPM, contact the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC).
You can also purchase or reuse treated WPM with the ISPM 15 mark on the secondary market from certified WPM producers. To check that WPM you purchase is compliant, contact an ALSC-accredited inspection agency.
Manufacture
Become an ISPM 15-compliant WPM manufacturer and purchase the ALSC-accredited heat-treated grade mark lumber to construct WPM.
For details on how to become a manufacturer, contact the ALSC.
Treat and Mark
Use a registered ISPM 15 heat-treatment or fumigation facility to treat and mark any unmarked WPM.
Frequently Asked Questions
For both heat treatment (HT) and methyl bromide (MB) fumigation programs, the quality/treatment mark consists of the following:
- U.S. agency trademark, which is the identifying symbol, logo, or name of the accredited agency and is found outside of the ISPM 15 mark
- Facility identification, which is the WPM product manufacturer assigned facility number
- HT or MB mark
- Country code, which is the two letter ISO country abbreviation
- IPPC-approved international symbol for compliant WPM
- "DUN" when the WPM is considered dunnage
No. You must be registered with one of the accredited inspection agencies.
APHIS does not have information about lumber mills that provide HT-marked wood. Contact the inspection agencies for further information.
No. WPM must be either heat-treated to 56 degrees Celsius to the core for at least 30 minutes or fumigated with methyl bromide to the schedule in the ISPM 15 standard.
The intent of the ISPM 15 standard is that once the WPM is treated and officially marked, the treatment does not expire. You can reuse WPM without retreating and remarking.
However, WPM that has been repaired or remanufactured must be either fumigated or heat-treated again. The old mark must be obliterated with a new mark applied by one of the inspection agencies.
Yes. Hardwood WPM must be treated and officially marked.
No. It is against APHIS policy to issue a phytosanitary certificate for WPM used to transport commodities. If the WPM itself is the cargo, we will issue a phytosanitary certificate.
Contact one of the accredited inspection agencies under either the heat treatment or fumigation program to learn how to obtain treated and officially marked dunnage.
Treatment and an ISPM 15 mark are not required when shipping from the United States. However, they are required when shipping from other countries.
Have a question about treatments, requirements, costs, or related topics?
Contact ALSC or One of Its Accredited Agencies