Does my load need it?
| Shipment | Needs the mark? |
|---|---|
| Truck from Salt Lake to another U.S. state | No |
| Container to a port, then overseas | Yes |
| Truck to Canada | Check the CFIA page; an exemption applies for now |
| Air freight | Check the destination country's rule |
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says wood packaging imported into Canada from the continental United States is exempt from policy D-98-08, pending a phased move to full ISPM 15 implementation. Dates can change, so check before each shipment.
Utah exporters
Containers move through the Union Pacific intermodal terminal in Salt Lake City and the BNSF facility on the west side, both in the Northwest Quadrant. A load built for one of those terminals, bound overseas, is the case this rule covers.
Ordering for export
- Say marked HT stock is needed.
- Say the container date, if you have one.
- Ask for a look at the mark on a sample.
- Do not assume used stock is marked; most is not.
Does a new pallet satisfy ISPM 15?
Only if it is treated and marked. New wood alone does not.
Can plastic or metal avoid the rule?
Plastic and metal are not wood packaging, but the rule concerns wood packaging.
Start at heat-treated pallets or the stamp guide, then the quote form.
What the mark proves, and what it does not
The IPPC mark is evidence of treatment, not of quality. It shows that the wood reached the required temperature for the required time at a certified facility. It says nothing about whether the pallet is Grade A or Grade C, so an export stack still needs a grade of its own.
Do pallets going to Mexico need the mark?
Check the importing country's plant-health agency. Rules differ by destination and change over time.
What about wood from a pallet that is inside a crate?
Wood packaging includes crates, dunnage and pallets, so each wooden piece in a load may need the mark.
Is the mark a quality grade?
No. It shows treatment only, so an export stack still needs a grade.
What the mark contains
- The IPPC certification symbol.
- A two-letter ISO country code.
- The inspection agency's logo and certification number.
- The treatment provider's or manufacturer's number.
- The treatment code: HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide fumigation.
Heat treatment means the core of the wood reaches 56 degrees Celsius and holds it for at least 30 minutes. Plastic pallets, corrugated pallets, presswood and molded-wood pallets, plywood and other processed wood, raw wood 6 mm or thinner and wine and spirits barrels are exempt from the standard.