Stakeholder Reminder: Suspension of ISPM 15 Hyphen Requirement Ends December 31, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reminds stakeholders that the temporary suspension of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) hyphen requirement will end on December 31, 2025.

From March through December 31, 2025, APHIS and CBP have not taken regulatory action on shipments solely missing the hyphen after the country code. Beginning January 1, 2026, APHIS and CBP will resume enforcement of this requirement. All other ISPM 15 provisions have remained in effect throughout the suspension and will continue to be enforced.

We encourage importers, trading partners, and wood packaging material manufacturers to take this time to ensure markings are fully compliant with ISPM 15 Annex 2, including the mandated hyphen separating the two-letter country code from the producer code. This detail is critical for maintaining the integrity of the program and preventing fraudulent markings.

APHIS appreciates your partnership in protecting plant health and supporting safe, efficient trade. For questions or to share information on shipment volumes, please contact our Plant Health office at aphis.planthealth@usda.gov or call 844-820-2234 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET).