IPPC(International Plant Protection Convention) has established ISPM (International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures) No. 15 in 2002, which has been modified several times. The most recent modification has been made in April 2009.

ISPM No.15 is a kind of guideline "to reduce the risk of introduction and/or spread of quarantine pests associated with wood packaging material (including dunnage), made of coniferous and non-coniferous raw wood, in use in international trade"

NPPOs (National Plant Protection Organizations) of import countries can set up their own regulations in the usage of wooden packages along with ISPM No.15 and the export countries have to follow the regulations of each import country. In case of a violation of the regulations, the export items might be subject to destruction, refusal of entry, or shipping back to the origin.

Wood packaging materials in ISPM No.15 are defined as wooden pallet, dunnage, crate, block, etc, made of raw wood, without processing with adhesive materials or heat/pressure like plywood.

These wooden packaging materials are required to have heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation (MB) to keep away quarantine pests, and those with treatment must have a certification mark.

The exporter can issue certification documents but they are not compulsory if the markings are shown on the wooden packaging materials.

In 2009, there were modifications to the regulations in Korea in May and in Australia in August. Adoption of modifications are planned in Indonesia in September and in Israel in October.

Terminology

ISPM：	International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM holds the guidelines from No.1 to No.31) ISPM No.15 "Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade"
IPPC：	International Plant Protection Convention

References:
The Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (2008) INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 1 to 31 (2008 edition).

IPPC's website https://www.ippc.int/IPP/En/default.jsp

The Revision of ISPM No.15 (April 2009)　(English)

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