ISPM 15
Globally, a lot of transport is done using pallets or wooden packaging. Because wood is a natural product, it it comes with certain regulations. How do you know if wooden packaging material has been properly handled for international transport? The ISPM 15 requirements are used for this purpose. Below, we explain exactly what ISPM (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures) 15 is.
ISPM 15: WHAT IS IT?
ISPM 15 is the standard for the trouble-free use of wooden packaging in international transport. Since wood can contain harmful organisms, many countries require it to be treated in a specific way" ('Heat Treatment').
By using ISPM 15-certified wooden packaging or dunnage from a registered supplier, you can be sure that you are complying with the rules for global transport. This prevents the unexpected spread of live pests and ensures that a cargo or freight is not simply stopped at the border.
HT TREATMENT ACCORDING TO ISPM 15 GUIDELINES
Dunnage and wooden packaging are heated in special drying chambers according to ISPM 15 guidelines: Heat Treatment (HT). In that treatment, the packing wood is heated in a drying chamber before use until the core of the wood reaches a temperature of at least 56 degrees for 30 minutes. This then kills all live pests. Harmful organisms can no longer survive in the material. Almost all Foresco production sites have drying rooms, to dry and treat wood in accordance with ISPM 15.
![htlogo[geslotenlijnen-letterrcontouren]_p001.jpg](https://www.foresco.eu/cache/94b6bcf38d989324d8086e7002bde336/htlogo[geslotenlijnen-letterrcontouren]_p001.webp "htlogo[geslotenlijnen-letterrcontouren]_p001.jpg")
HOW TO RECOGNISE A REGISTERED SUPPLIER?
The treated pallet or crate will be marked: the official IPPC mark. This indicates which country the product is from and which supplier it comes from. The sign consists of:
- A country code
- A 3-digit registration number of the operator
- Treatment method: Heat Treatment (HT) or Dielectric Heating (DH)
To prevent your shipment from being detained, returned or destroyed, check this mark carefully.
Good to know: the HT treatment we describe above has been widespread since 2010. Before that, the substance methyl bromide (MB) was widely used. This has since been banned. Foresco pays strict attention to its enforcement.
WHAT MAKES FORESCO STAND OUT AS A REGISTERED SUPPLIER?
All official producers of wooden packaging are registered with the Wood Packaging Marking Foundation (SMHV). Given strict rules, almost all suppliers work in the same way.
Foresco does this in a very sustainable way. Working towards a green future, we have been investing in ways to minimise waste for 30 years. For example, our wooden products come from sustainably-managed forests and we generate our own energy at many of our sites.
WHEN IS ISPM 15 NEEDED?
More and more countries are making the ISPM 15 guidelines mandatory for wooden packaging upon import. Within the European Union, ISPM 15 is not a hard requirement, but it often is outside the EU. A complete overview can be found on the website of the Wood Packaging Marking Foundation (SMHV). It also includes a short animation on the importance of ISPM 15.
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