Illustrative situation
A brand books a shipment on wooden pallets and the forwarder asks whether the pallets carry an ISPM 15 stamp. The cartons are cardboard, and the brand wonders whether the rule applies to it at all.
Main answer
ISPM 15 matters when apparel cartons travel on, or are packed with, solid wood packaging such as pallets, crates or dunnage, because that wood must be treated and carry the official IPPC mark, while the cardboard cartons themselves are not covered. Check the pallet before shipping, since an unmarked pallet can cause rejection or re-export.
What the standard covers
ISPM 15 is the international standard for wood packaging material. It applies to raw wood packaging such as pallets, crates, skids and dunnage, and it does not apply to wholly processed wood products such as plywood, particleboard or veneer, nor to paper or plastic.
The mark
Regulated wood packaging must be treated by an approved method, such as heat treatment or fumigation, and bear the official mark showing the IPPC symbol, the country code, the producer or treatment facility number and the treatment code. CBP and USDA APHIS enforce this at US ports.
What happens without it
Wood packaging without a valid mark can be held, treated, re-exported or destroyed at the shipper’s cost. Cargo delays follow and can be costly for a seasonal order.
Cartons, pallets and containers
Most apparel moves in corrugated cartons, which are paper and are not covered. Wood comes into play with pallets, crates, blocking and bracing inside the container. Ask the forwarder what wood will be used, and whether each piece is marked. Mixed loads from other shippers can also carry wood, so ask about consolidation.
Records
Keep photos of the pallet marks and the loaded container with your shipping file. If the border authority asks, these show that the wood was marked. If a pallet fails, ask the forwarder for options and costs before cargo is moved.
Related reading
See the products page for the products behind this topic, and read customs bond next. Both are general guides, not a quotation.
Practical steps
Ask the forwarder or factory to confirm that pallets are marked and clean, and take photos of the stamp. Consider plastic or paper pallets where allowed, and consult your forwarder about palletising.
Fact, recommendation, uncertainty
- Established fact
- ISPM 15 applies to solid wood packaging such as pallets and crates, which must be treated and marked, and does not apply to processed wood such as plywood.
- Recommendation
- Confirm pallet markings with your forwarder before loading or use non-wood pallets where suitable.
- Uncertainty
- Countries apply the standard through their own rules and may differ in details.
Sources and further reading
- IPPC — ISPM 15: Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Wood Packaging Materials
Sources checked on 24 October 2026. Standards bodies sell the full texts; we cite what their public pages state. General information, not legal or technical certification advice.
More perspectives from the team
Three further views on the same question, each by function. They add conditions and limits to the main answer; they are editorial notes, not customer reviews.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Sourcing
Ask the factory to photograph the ISPM 15 mark on each pallet before the container is closed. Limit: reused or repaired pallets may have unclear marks. Ask for photos of the wood used in the container before it is sealed and the doors are closed.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Product selection
Use floor-loaded cartons or plastic pallets when volume is small and presentation allows. Limit: floor loading raises handling time at both ends. Use fewer pallets by building mixed cartons into single pallet loads where the forwarder agrees.
Sino Finetex Editorial Team Quality & care
Check for pests, bark and damage on pallets before cartons are loaded. Limit: wet or dirty pallets can stain cartons and cause mould. Reject any pallet with a missing or damaged mark and ask for a replacement before it is loaded.
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