Wood packaging and ISPM 15: a pre-shipment checklist

Separate the product from its packaging

A wooden table and the timber used to support that table during shipping are different things to assess. ISPM 15 concerns wood packaging material, including dunnage. Processed wood such as plywood can fall outside its scope, while a package containing solid-wood components needs those components assessed. [1]

Ask the supplier to identify the material of the base, skids, blocks, frame, panels and loose bracing. “Plywood crate” is incomplete if the feet and internal supports are solid timber. Save a material list and clear photographs before the goods are enclosed.

Use the correct provider and mark

Arrange treatment and marking through an appropriately authorized provider. Treatment is not synonymous with fumigation; applicable approved treatment methods and national implementation must be checked. For U.S. imports, APHIS describes compliance checks, approved sourcing and the information in the ISPM mark. [2]

Inspect mark legibility and the identifying information before loading. For U.S.-bound shipments, APHIS announced resumption of enforcement of the required hyphen separating the country and producer codes from January 1, 2026. [3] Ask the supplier to correct noncompliant packaging through its approved process; do not draw or print an official mark yourself.

Check the whole shipment

Inspect replacement pallets and last-minute dunnage as well as the original crate. A compliant box placed on an unverified solid-wood skid can introduce a new issue. Record what was actually loaded, including any rework performed by a consolidation warehouse.

Look for bark, pest evidence, contamination and physical damage. If marks are unreadable or the provider cannot substantiate compliance, hold the packaging decision for review. Keep the treatment or supplier records requested for the route and any additional destination instructions. A generic fumigation certificate should not be assumed to replace a required mark.

Make the supplier instruction explicit

Suggested brief: “Identify all solid-wood packaging and dunnage for this order. Confirm the destination requirements with the approved packaging provider. Supply photographs of each relevant mark and of the completed package before collection. Notify us before substituting or repairing wooden components.”

The shipment coordinator should confirm the current requirements with the destination broker or plant-protection authority. Requirements for wooden products themselves, as well as cleanliness or other biosecurity conditions, may need a separate review. Complete that review before the cargo is difficult to access inside a container.

Common questions