ISPM 15 Wood Packaging Rules for Exports from India

Key takeaways

Every piece of raw-wood packaging in the container, including dunnage and bracing, needs ISPM 15 treatment and a legible mark.
The mark has the IPPC symbol, the country code IN, a producer or treatment provider number and a treatment code such as HT.
Plywood, MDF, particle board and OSB are exempt, which is why many exporters use them for crates.
The US can order immediate re-export of unmarked wood packaging; the EU and Australia also enforce ISPM 15 at the border.
Checking marks on every pallet and crate is a standard part of container loading supervision.

What ISPM 15 covers

ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade, is a standard of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The current text was adopted in 2018 and published in 2019. It aims to stop pests moving between countries in packaging made from raw wood.

Source: ISPM 15 (2018), sections on scope and exemptions, reviewed 13 Oct 2026.
Covered	Exempt
Pallets, crates, boxes, packing cases, dunnage, cable drums, spools and reels made from raw wood, softwood or hardwood	Wood packaging made entirely of thin wood, 6 mm or less in thickness
Dunnage and bracing used to secure cargo in a container	Packaging made wholly of processed wood: plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer made with glue, heat or pressure
Reused, repaired or remanufactured wood packaging (with specific rules)	Sawdust, wood shavings and wood wool; wood components permanently fixed to vehicles and containers

The furniture itself is not wood packaging. A sheesham table is regulated as a product, while the pallet it stands on and the battens holding it in place are wood packaging.

Treatment and the mark

Wood packaging must be made from debarked wood and treated by one of the methods in Annex 1. Small pieces of bark may remain if each is less than 3 cm wide, or wider but under 50 cm² in area.

Source: ISPM 15 (2018), Annex 1 and Annex 2.
Code	Treatment	Key requirement
HT	Heat treatment	At least 56 °C for 30 continuous minutes throughout the profile of the wood, including its core
DH	Dielectric heating (microwave or radio frequency)	At least 60 °C for 1 continuous minute throughout the profile, including the surface
MB	Methyl bromide fumigation	Schedule in Annex 1; bark removed before treatment
SF	Sulphuryl fluoride fumigation	Schedule in Annex 1; bark removed before treatment

Annex 2 sets the mark. It must contain:

The IPPC symbol, to the left of the other parts.
The country code: the ISO two-letter code, IN for India, followed by a hyphen.
The producer or treatment provider code, a unique code assigned by the national plant protection organization (NPPO).
The treatment code, such as HT or MB.

The mark sits inside a border with a vertical line separating the symbol from the codes. No other information may appear inside the border. It must be legible, durable and not transferable, placed where it is visible in use, preferably on at least two opposite sides. It must not be hand drawn, and red or orange should be avoided.

India's scheme for treatment providers

India's NPPO is the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQS) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. It accredits treatment facilities and publishes National Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (NSPM), including:

NSPM-9: forced hot-air treatment facilities for wood packaging material.
NSPM-11: methyl bromide fumigation.
NSPM-12: accreditation of fumigation agencies for methyl bromide fumigation.

Accredited treatment providers and registered units are listed on the DPPQS Plant Quarantine Management System (PQMS) portal. For an exporter, the practical rule is to buy pallets and crates from a provider on that list and to keep its treatment certificate for each lot.

Typical problems to look for at an export factory are pallets bought without treatment records, marks drawn by hand, extra battens cut from untreated wood during packing, and bark left on low-grade timber.

How destination countries enforce it

Sources: eCFR; EUR-Lex; Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026.
Market	Legal basis	What happens if it fails
United States	7 CFR 319.40-3(b): treatment and a legible, permanent IPPC mark on each article, preferably on two opposite sides	An inspector may order immediate re-export of wood packaging without the required mark
European Union	Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, Article 43: ISPM 15 treatment and mark required unless an ISPM 15 exemption applies	Under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2125, authorities order the operator to destroy non-compliant wood packaging found at release for free circulation or at destination
Australia	Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON): ISPM 15 compliant timber or an approved alternative treatment; non-commodity timber in containers must be declared with documents	Non-compliant timber packaging is treated, exported or destroyed at the importer's expense

In each case the importer bears the cost and delay. A single unmarked pallet can hold up a whole container.

What an inspection checks at loading

An inspector at loading can check	Needs the NPPO, treatment provider or a lab
Every pallet, crate and dunnage piece carries a complete mark: symbol, IN, provider number, treatment code, border	Whether the treatment was actually done to schedule
Marks are stamped or branded, not hand drawn, and visible on two opposite sides where possible	Whether a provider number is genuine and its accreditation current
No bark beyond the tolerance, no live insects, fresh bore holes or frass	Identification of any insect found
No untreated battens or repairs added after treatment; plywood crates are used where planned
The treatment certificate covers the quantity of packaging used

How Clear To Load checks this in India

During container loading supervision in India, the inspector photographs the ISPM 15 mark on pallets and crates, checks dunnage and bracing as they go in, and records any unmarked or damaged wood before the doors close. Unmarked packaging is listed in the report so it can be replaced before sealing.

The report arrives within 24 hours and ends in a verdict: Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared. To add these checks, book an inspection. For the timber in the furniture itself, see FSC and timber legality in India.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Do plywood crates need an ISPM 15 mark?

No. ISPM 15 exempts packaging made wholly of processed wood such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer. If a plywood crate has raw-wood skids or battens, those parts need treatment and the mark.

Does dunnage need to be marked?

Yes. ISPM 15 covers dunnage, and the IPPC notes it is a high-risk item. Dunnage and bracing cut at the factory from untreated wood is a common cause of failures.

Is heat treatment or methyl bromide better?

Both are approved under ISPM 15. Heat treatment (HT) needs 56 °C for 30 continuous minutes through the wood. Some buyers specify HT to avoid fumigants; check the order and the destination's rules.

Who issues the ISPM 15 number in India?

The producer or treatment provider code is assigned under the authority of the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage. Accredited providers are listed on its PQMS portal.

Is the wooden furniture itself covered by ISPM 15?

No. ISPM 15 covers wood packaging. Furniture is a product with its own import rules, such as timber legality laws. The pallets, crates and dunnage around it are covered.

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ISPM 15 wood packaging for exports from India