Export & packaging
ISPM-15 and plywood: what the standard requires for export packaging
Short answer: ISPM-15 applies to solid-wood packaging — pallets, crates, battens and dunnage — which must be heat-treated or fumigated and stamped with the IPPC mark. Plywood and other engineered wood are generally exempt, because they are already made with heat and glue. So when you crate goods on a plywood case riding on solid-wood skids, only the solid-wood parts carry the stamp; the plywood panels do not. For most destinations, heat treatment (HT) is the safe default — methyl bromide (MB) is being phased out or banned in many markets, including the EU.
What ISPM-15 is, in one paragraph
ISPM-15 is the international standard that governs wood packaging used to move goods across borders. Its purpose is to stop timber pests and larvae travelling inside untreated wood from one country to another. It covers solid-wood packaging — pallets, crates, cases, boxes, battens, skids and loose dunnage. Each compliant piece must be treated by an approved method and carry the IPPC mark so customs and plant-quarantine officers can read its history at a glance.
Why plywood is usually exempt
Plywood is an engineered (processed) wood product. It is manufactured under heat and pressure with adhesives, a process the standard treats as sufficient to eliminate the pests of concern. For that reason the standard generally exempts plywood, along with other processed panels such as OSB, MDF, particleboard and veneer-based products. In practice this means a plywood box or plywood-faced case does not itself need an IPPC stamp — but any solid-wood component attached to it does.
This distinction matters most on a complete export package. A typical heavy crate is a plywood skin on a solid-wood frame, sitting on a solid-wood pallet or skid. The plywood panels stay exempt; the solid-wood frame, runners, battens and pallet must be treated and marked. Confirm the build of your packaging so the right parts carry the right stamp.
The approved treatments: heat (HT/DH) and methyl bromide (MB)
ISPM-15 recognises two main treatment routes for solid wood. Both end in an IPPC mark, but they differ sharply in method and in how widely they are accepted.
| Feature | Heat Treatment (HT) | Methyl Bromide (MB) |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Wood core heated to at least 56°C for at least 30 minutes (conventional kiln / steam HT) | Chemical fumigation with methyl bromide gas |
| Mark code | HT (or DH for dielectric heating) | MB |
| Chemicals | None | Ozone-depleting fumigant |
| Market acceptance | Broadly accepted; the mainstream choice | Restricted or banned in many markets (e.g. the EU prohibits it); some destinations reject MB-marked wood |
| Typical use today | Default for most exports | Declining; used only where still permitted and specified |
A note on dielectric heating (DH): DH is a separate heat route under ISPM-15, not the same schedule as conventional HT. It heats the wood core to at least 60°C for at least 1 minute (for timber up to 20 cm thick) and carries its own DH mark code — so do not read the 56°C / 30-minute figure as the DH spec.
For most shipments, HT is the safe default. It is chemical-free, widely recognised, and avoids the risk of a consignment being turned away at the destination port because the wood was fumigated with a banned chemical. Always confirm with your buyer or freight forwarder that the destination country accepts the treatment you intend to use before the wood is marked.
How to read the IPPC mark
A compliant IPPC mark is not a brand logo — it is a coded stamp that carries specific information. Look for these elements:
- The IPPC symbol (the stylised ear-of-wheat logo).
- A two-letter country code (for India, IN) identifying where the wood was treated.
- A unique facility / registration number for the certified treatment provider.
- A treatment code — HT, DH or MB — telling you how the wood was treated.
If a solid-wood pallet or crate arriving with your goods has no IPPC mark, or carries an MB mark bound for a market that no longer accepts it, that is the signal to raise with your supplier or forwarder before shipment.
What this means for a plywood buyer
If you are buying plywood to build packing cases, crates or boxes, the key practical points are:
- The plywood panels you buy are generally exempt — they do not need an IPPC stamp.
- The solid-wood parts of the finished package — frame timber, battens, runners, skids and the pallet — must be treated and stamped to ISPM-15.
- Default to HT unless a specific destination requires otherwise, and confirm the destination accepts your chosen treatment.
- When in doubt about a particular country's rule, treat country-specific bans as a moving target and verify against current requirements for that market.
We supply packing-grade and Okoume plywood in bulk to packing-case makers and exporters who crate engineering and heavy goods. For the made-up options see our plywood boxes & crates and plywood pallets pages; if you need help matching panel grade and build to your export route, talk to our export desk and we will work it through with you.
FAQ
Does plywood need an ISPM-15 / IPPC stamp for export?
Generally no. Plywood is an engineered wood product made with heat and adhesives, so ISPM-15 typically exempts it. The stamp is required on the solid-wood parts of a package — pallets, crate frames, battens and dunnage — not on the plywood panels themselves.
If my crate is plywood on a wooden pallet, what needs treating?
Only the solid-wood components. The plywood skin stays exempt, while the solid-wood frame, runners, skids and the pallet underneath must be heat-treated or fumigated and carry the IPPC mark.
What is the difference between HT and MB on a pallet stamp?
HT means the wood core was heated to at least 56°C for at least 30 minutes — chemical-free and the mainstream choice. MB means it was fumigated with methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting chemical that is restricted or banned in many markets, including the EU. Default to HT and confirm the destination accepts it. (A separate DH mark means dielectric heating, a different heat schedule.)
Why is methyl bromide being phased out?
Methyl bromide is ozone-depleting, so many markets restrict or prohibit it — for example, the EU bans it. Some destinations will reject wood packaging marked MB outright, which is why heat treatment has become the safer, more widely accepted route.
How do I tell which treatment a pallet received?
Read the IPPC mark. Alongside the wheat-ear symbol it shows a two-letter country code, a unique facility number and a treatment code — HT or DH for heat treatment, MB for methyl bromide. The treatment code tells you exactly how that piece of wood was treated.
Crating for export?
Tell us the goods and destination and we'll supply the right plywood — and flag which solid-wood parts of your build need the IPPC mark.