Most trims ship in cartons, but the moment a pallet, crate, dunnage or support timber enters the picture, ISPM 15 applies: solid wood packaging without a valid IPPC mark can be refused, destroyed or returned at destination, and the bill usually lands with the shipper. This guide covers six steps — what is in scope, how to read the mark, which treatment to choose, how to avoid wood altogether, who is responsible for what, and how to inspect — so that the hidden cost and port risk can be pinned down at quotation stage.

1. Which Wood Parts Need IPPC, and Which Do Not

ISPM 15 covers solid wood packaging: solid wood pallets, crates and crating, dunnage, support timber, wedges, wooden cores and spools. Exempt are processed wood materials: plywood, particleboard, MDF, OSB and boards bonded under high temperature and pressure, which are considered incapable of carrying pests.

In trims export the solid wood cases are concentrated: heavy cargo in LCL uses solid wood pallets; hardware, fasteners, tooling and weaving accessories travel in crates; webbing and elastic come on wooden cores; sample and exhibition cases are braced with timber. Wooden hang tags and buttons are products, not packaging, but the solid wood pallet that carries them must comply.

💡 Tip: solid wood blocks, support timber and bracing strips on a pallet are all wood packaging — stamping the pallet alone is not enough. One unmarked solid wood part can hold up the whole consignment.

2. How to Read an IPPC Mark

Element Typical content What it tells you
IPPC symbol Wheat motif with the letters IPPC Shows the piece was treated under ISPM 15
Country code Two letters, e.g. CN for China, DE for Germany Where treatment happened, not necessarily origin
Provider registration Numeric code, e.g. CN-00000 Issued by the plant protection body, traces back to the treater
Treatment code HT, MB or DH HT heat treatment, MB methyl bromide, DH dielectric heating
Batch and date (optional) Some treaters add a date or batch stamp Helps traceability and checks before reusing old pallets

Fix the reading order: check the symbol and prefix first, then country code and registration number, then confirm the treatment meets the destination requirement. The mark must sit where it is visible, legible and not easily rubbed off; inkjet, branding or a nailed plate all work, but nailing boards over the mark is a frequent cause of rejection.

3. Heat Treatment, Fumigation, Dielectric Heating: How to Choose

Treatment How it is done Time and cost Acceptance Notes
Heat treatment HT Wood core reaches 56 °C or more for at least 30 minutes Standard lead time, controllable cost Widest, accepted in the EU, North America, Australia and New Zealand Moisture content shifts afterwards — watch distortion and nail holding
Methyl bromide MB Dosed fumigation in a sealed chamber Fast, hours to a day, but the agent is restricted Restricted or banned in the EU; still accepted in some markets Residues and environmental impact — avoid if possible
Dielectric heating DH High-frequency heating to 60 °C core for one minute Few machines, higher unit cost Acceptance is growing Suits large-section timber, few plants offer it

For trims exports, prefer heat treatment unless the destination explicitly requires fumigation: it is the most widely accepted, leaves no residues and needs no fumigation window. The real risk is a used pallet: after several trips, with a worn mark or re-nailed, many destination ports treat it as untreated.

4. Fumigation-Free Alternatives

1) Plywood and particleboard pallets: processed board, exempt from ISPM 15, strength close to solid wood, no fumigation and no waiting — the most common choice for export today, though appearance differs and heavy loads still need the load rating checked. 2) Plastic pallets: no treatment, moisture resistant, reusable, good for returnable logistics and clean environments; higher purchase cost and dependent on destination recycling schemes. 3) Slip sheets and honeycomb paper pallets: light and recyclable, suited to push-pull handling, so confirm the destination terminal has the equipment. 4) Paper corner boards plus stretch film: light cargo can skip the pallet entirely and gain strength from corner boards, film and stacking pattern.

The logic is simple: set the load from weight and stacking height first, then check whether the destination needs fumigation and whether it has a pallet return scheme, and finally price fumigation cost, waiting time and detention risk together. In many orders paying a little more for the pallet beats fumigation plus two days of waiting.

5. Who Does What: Put It in the Contract

  • Treatment and marking: the treater or pallet supplier handles the IPPC mark and the heat treatment certificate; the shipper verifies mark against actual pieces, not just the certificate.
  • Documents: heat treatment or fumigation record, with a phytosanitary certificate in some countries; Australia and New Zealand require more detailed wood packaging declarations, so confirm with the forwarder early.
  • Used and re-exported pallets: check validity and that the mark is intact; re-nailed pallets are treated as reworked at many ports and must be re-treated.
  • Keep evidence: photograph the pallet mark, the bracing and the stacking height at loading, so you can prove compliance later.
  • Cost clause: state who bears destruction, return, detention and storage charges caused by non-compliant wood packaging, and agree who may switch to an alternative.

6. Checklist Before and After Shipping

Send weight and dimensions, stacking height, shipping mode (LCL, FCL or air), destination country, pallet requirement and material preference (plywood, plastic or paper) in one go. On receipt, check that the IPPC mark is complete and legible, that the treatment matches the destination requirement, that no bark or insect holes are present, that load rating and stacking height match the agreement, and that trims inside are free of moisture and distortion. The first four decide customs clearance; the last two decide whether your trims can go straight into production.

If you are unsure what a destination requires for wood packaging, send us the country, cargo weight and shipping mode. We advise on pallet and packing based on common port practice and provide pallet mark and loading photos before dispatch, so nothing has to be redone on arrival.

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Arranging pallets and packing for a trims export? Send cargo weight and dimensions, stacking height, shipping mode and destination. In 3 to 7 days we quote wood and fumigation-free options side by side, and provide pallet mark and loading photos before dispatch so that both clearance and arrival go smoothly.

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