1. IPPC International Standard ISPM 15
Guidelines for Regulating
Wood Packaging Material (WPM) in the Transport of Commodities

2. International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC)
A multilateral international treaty dealing with preventing the spread and introduction of plant pests
149 Signatory governments
Food and Agriculture Organization (FA0) of the United Nations

3. Purpose: International Standards
Harmonize requirements between signatory countries
Each member country still has to draft
and implement their own regulation.

4. National Standards National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is recognized as the NPPO for the United States of America

5. Specific Components of the Wood Packing Material Standard:
Products affected by International Standard
include unprocessed raw wood (hardwood/softwood)
packaging including dunnage

6. Specific Components of the Wood Packing Material Standard:
Wood Packing Material made entirely of processed manufactured wood (plywood, particle board, OSB, veneer) is exempt from the standard.
Raw Wood less than 6mm (0.24 in) in thickness is also exempt.

7. Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard
Treatment/Processing Options:
Heat Treatment (HT) and Fumigation with Methyl Bromide (MB) are the approved measures
Accepted by all signatory countries, for all types of wood (hardwood/softwood)
Allows for the free movement of wood packing material regardless of country of origin

8. Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard cont’d:
Treatment/Processing Options:
Official mark on the wood – No paper certification is required.
No requirement for debarking except dunnage is required to be treated under approved measures or otherwise be bark free.

9. Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard cont’d
HEAT TREATMENT:
Wood Packaging Material heated to a minimum wood core temperature of 56°c for minimum of 30 minutes.
Required by the standard to be an official program with official marks and official oversight by the NPPO
Note: Effective Oct 1, 2001 there is already an official Heat Treatment program in place for the export of coniferous non manufactured wood products destined to the EU and is presently unchanged. This official program was requested of the EU and was based upon the now approved international standard.

10. Specific Components of the ISPM15 Standard
Marking for Approved Measures (HT & MB)
XX - 000
HT or MB
No bug mark has been removed due to a trademark issue over the use of the symbol. The EU Commission has requested of its member states that they accept the mark without the no bug symbol as being compliant with the EU measure.
Mark should contain ISO two letter Country code with unique number assigned by grading agency and the IPPC abbreviation (HT or MB)
NOTE: Where debarking is required, the letters DB should
be added to the abbreviation of the approved measure.

11. Organization of HT Program
American Lumber
Standard Committee
USDA APHIS PPQ
17 Inspection Agencies
Over 3400
Enrolled Manufacturers

12. ALSC and Inspection Agency Responsibilities (MOU)
Inspection Agencies accredited by ALSC audit facilities producing and quality marking of wood packaging (WP) for conformance to ISPM15.
Inspection agencies confirm that heat treated wood packaging for export is properly marked
Maintain signed agreements with agencies
Maintain register of participating WP facilities
Agencies shall follow the ALSC Policy and “Wood Packaging Enforcement Regulations.”

13. Three Tier Audit Program—Heat Treatment Program
Inspection Agencies audit Manufacturers
Monthly check for: work plan compliance, review of heat chamber records, and inspection of HT lumber
ALSC audits Inspection Agencies
Monthly for: work plan compliance, consolidated reports, and Quality Control procedures
On-site audits of Manufacturers with Inspection Agencies
APHIS audits ALSC and Inspection Agencies
Semi-annually for compliance with MOU
Periodic Field Audits of Manufacturers with Inspection Agencies

14. Attachment A:
Typical Marks of the 26 ALSC Accredited Untreated Agencies Placed on Lumber Indicating the Lumber Has Been Heat Treated In Compliance With ISPM 15
Accredited agency insignia
Note: Reference to untreated does not mean that the lumber has not been heat treated.
HT designation signifying lumber has been heat treated to 560 C for at the core for a minimum of 30 minutes
Unique number assigned to the producer of the HT lumber

15. Attachment B:
Typical WPM Quality Marks of the 13 ALSC Accredited Agencies Placed on Wood Packaging Material Indicating WPM Has Been Heat Treated In Compliance With ISPM 15
Marks are identical to the mark shown in Annex 2 of the ISPM 15 standard with the exception the accredited agency insignia is added to the marking

16. NOTICE!
You can not purchase HT lumber and apply the ISPM 15 stamp unless enrolled in the program by a grading agency.
You can work with a grading agency to manufacture your crates/pallets and they can apply the ISPM 15 stamp on an “on-call” basis.

17. Use of ISPM 15 Compliant WPM
WPM that is marked and certified in compliance with ISPM 15 may be reused regardless of country of origin
ISPM 15 compliant WPM that has been repaired or remanufactured must be recertified under the HT or fumigation option

18. International IPPC Stamps

19. NAPPO Countries United States of America Canada Mexico

20. WPM Requirements of NAPPO Countries
USA, Canada and Mexico implemented ISPM 15 concurrently on September 16, 2005.
There is an exemption for ISPM 15 requirements for WPM between the USA and Canada only.

21. United States is a member of NAPPO
The USA’s adoption and enforcement of ISPM 15 on September 16, 2005 also includes the following US controlled territories.
Puerto Rico
US Virgin Islands
Guam
American Samoa
Midway Islands

22. WPM movement between the US and its territories are consider domestic and NOT international movement.

23. Existing WPM Requirements
European Union (EU)
All EU member states implemented ISPM 15 effective March 1, Debarking has been suspended until January 1, ISPM 15 marking of dunnage has been delayed until December 31, 2007.

24. Unlisted WPM Requirements
Please check the APHIS website dedicated to WPM for updates on WTO notifications or contact an APHIS official.
Contact information is found under Current Export Regulations for Selected Countries and Industry Alert Wood Packaging Materials Notification.

25. What happens to non-compliant shipments that enter the US?
At the expense of the importer:
WPM that does not have the ISPM 15 stamp must be re-exported
WPM that has the ISPM15 stamp but is found to contain a wood boring pest must be re-exported
WPM that has the ISPM 15 stamp but is found with a hitchhiking pest (non wood boring) may be fumigated by APHIS/PPQ

26. What can Your Business Do to Comply with ISPM 15?
Ask your WPM provider if they are ISPM 15 compliant and accredited
Provide information on the ISPM 15 standard
Give them contact information regarding how to become compliant (websites, contact numbers)
Do a cost benefit analysis if considering alternatives to wood packaging materials
Be aware of US and foreign countries’ timelines for implementation
Realize there is a $ cost $ for noncompliance as of 9/16

28. Contact Information for sources of compliant WPM or to become an ISPM 15 compliant manufacturer.
The American Lumber Standard Committee
Heat Treatment option
Phone number: 
Fax number: 
National Wooden Pallet & Container Association
MB Fumigation option
Phone number:
Fax number: