Pallets for export shippers
An exporter ships pallets across borders, and most borders require the ISPM 15 mark on wood packaging. The stamp is the whole point of the order.
- Size
- 48x40, 48x48, Euro
- Build
- Stringer or block
- Grade
- New, A
- Trades
- Export
- Towns
- All
What the rules ask
ISPM 15 regulates wood packaging in international trade. Wood has to be debarked and then heat treated to a core temperature of at least 56 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes, or fumigated. The mark shows which was done; see the HT stamp guide.
Choosing the size
| Destination habit | Size |
|---|---|
| North America | 48x40 |
| Europe | Euro, 800 x 1200 mm |
| Chemical loads | 48x48 |
Canada is different
Wood packaging from the continental US is currently exempt from a Canadian policy, pending a change. Read shipping to Canada before relying on that.
What to put in the request
- Destination country
- Size and build
- Count and date
- New or Grade A
- Whether the receiver names a mark besides the IPPC one
A pallet that lacks a stamp cannot be fixed later by a seller who is not a treater. Start with heat-treated pallets.
A sample export request
Forty new 48x40 pallets, heat-treated and marked, needed by the end of the month for a container to a port in Europe. The receiver asks for the IPPC mark and nothing else. Request the pallets, name the date and keep the paperwork.
Exporters also keep a copy of the treater's certificate when one is issued, since a customs officer may ask for it.
Three things an export request can leave out and regret
- The destination, since rules differ by country
- Whether the receiver wants the mark on every board or just the stringers
- The date, because treatment and shipping both take time
A request that lists them can be answered the first time.
Shipping to a port
Pallets for export go to a port or an inland rail ramp, usually by truck, then onto a ship. The pallet is subject to inspection at origin or at the destination. A pallet without a legible mark can be refused, held, or ordered treated, all of which cost time and money.
A shipper that exports regularly may keep a stock of marked pallets on hand. A shipper that exports occasionally should plan a lead time for each order.
Fumigation as a second route
ISPM 15 also allows fumigation with methyl bromide, marked MB. Heat treatment is the more common choice among shippers and the one most receivers expect, but a receiver's own rule should settle it.
Export means marks and paperwork
Pallets that leave the country usually need to carry the ISPM 15 mark, and the shipper may need a certificate or an invoice that names the material. Rules vary by destination, so check the receiving country before buying.
A shipper should ask any pallet seller for a clear mark on each pallet, and should keep a record of where they were bought.
Before the order
Write the destination country and the date the load leaves. Ask whether the receiver wants the pallet new or accepts used. Check the stamp on the first pallet of every delivery for a clear country code, producer code and the letters HT.
A load that leaves with a smudged stamp is the one that gets held, so look before loading.
Source: The Right Place, 2023 Manufacturing Report (read 11 November 2026).
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