ISPM-15 and Heat Treatment: What Export Pallets Must Meet
Why wooden export pallets need ISPM-15 treatment, what the HT stamp means, and how heat treatment compares with the older methods. A practical guide for manufacturers.
If your pallets cross an international border, they almost certainly need to comply with ISPM-15. This is the international standard that governs wood packaging material to stop pests from spreading between countries. Non-compliant pallets can be refused, fumigated or destroyed at the border — at the exporter's cost. Here is what you need to know.
What ISPM-15 requires
ISPM-15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) requires that solid-wood packaging thicker than 6 mm be treated to eliminate pests, then marked with an official stamp. The treatment must be done by an authorized facility, and the mark must be legible and permanent.
Reading the mark
A compliant pallet carries the IPPC 'wheat ear' symbol along with a country code, a unique facility number, and a treatment code. The two common treatment codes are:
- HT — Heat Treatment: the wood core is held at a minimum of 56 °C for at least 30 minutes.
- MB — Methyl Bromide fumigation: an older chemical method now phased out in many regions for environmental reasons.
- DH — Dielectric Heating: a newer heat-based method also accepted under ISPM-15.
Why heat treatment is standard today
Heat treatment (HT) is the most widely used method because it is chemical-free, fast and repeatable. It does not change the strength of the wood the way it might sound — the goal is simply to raise the core temperature enough to kill insects and larvae. Kiln-dried lumber (KD-HT) often meets the requirement as part of the drying process.
Design once, treat once
Treatment happens to the finished pallet, but good design keeps costs down: the fewer and lighter the components, the less lumber you heat-treat. When you build a pallet in PalletDrawing you can add an ISPM-15 note to the technical drawing and quote, so the shop floor and your customer both know the export requirement up front.