How does ISPM 15 affect your packaging solutions?

International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (known as "ISPM 15" for short) is a set of requirements stated by an international body. The purpose of ISPM 15 is to protect against the possibility that wood packaging materials could be a contamination route for the spread of plant disease or insects that destroy plant material. Packaging used in shipping goods to certain countries must meet ISPM 15 requirements.

What is ISPM 15, exactly?

The ISPM requirements are the standard used by the International Plant Protection Convention (“IPPC” for short) to ensure the continued health of plants in the member countries. Essentially, the ISPM standards exist to prevent disease and harmful insects from spreading through the use of contaminated packaging material.
Per the ISPM requirements, wood that is intended for use in creating packaging must undergo a specific procedure before it may be used. First, the wood is stripped of all bark, as bark provides a hiding place for certain harmful insects. Following this, the wood is either heat treated or fumigated. Either process is deemed sufficient to eliminate harmful insects and diseases.

Once the wood has been appropriately treated, it must be stamped with the IPPC seal showing that the wood is ISPM compliant. Inspectors at the entry points of shipping lanes will check wood packaging material for this seal.

If goods are shipped in packaging materials that are not stamped with the IPPC seal, any number of outcomes can result. Some countries will treat the entire package (and its contents) and then charge the shipper for this service—the rate charged is usually quite high. Other countries will deny the shipment and return it to the shipper. Still other countries may simply destroy the entire package or bury it in a landfill—leading to the costly loss of goods as well as an angry customer.

How does ISPM 15 affect the packaging material you use?

The ISPM 15 standards affect the packaging costs for shippers. Meeting the requirements can require additional steps which, in turn, increase the cost of packaging. What’s more, depending on the specifics of the situation, compliance with the requirements can have the effect of increasing the time between when an order is placed and when it may be shipped. This increased lag time can, in certain circumstances, lead to customer dissatisfaction with the shipper, even though the delay is not necessarily the shipper’s fault.

Keep in mind that ISPM 15 applies to packaging that is constructed of raw wood. Simply put, this means that the ISPM 15 standards cover those packages that are made up of large pieces of wood mechanically fastened together, such as boards nailed together to form a crate.

On the other hand, the ISPM 15 requirements are not binding upon other types of wood packaging created when the wood is taken through a process involving glue, heat, pressure, or similar manufacturing methods. As such, if the packaging is plywood, veneer, particle board, chipboard, fiberboard, or other forms of composite materials, the standards will not apply.

This is because the process used to manufacture composite packaging materials is sufficient to ensure that harmful insects and diseases cannot be transmitted from these materials. Whether it’s due to the mechanical process such as chipping or shredding, or due to the intense heat and pressure, the finished product is not a carrier for harmful insects or disease.

How can Nefab packaging solutions help?

Nefab has the perfect packaging solution for you. Whether you wish to utilize packaging that comes under the requirements of ISPM 15, or whether you are interested in exploring alternative packaging solutions, Nefab has the solution to your issue.
If you need packaging that is compliant with ISPM 15, Nefab has the ability to custom-build the perfect packaging solution to your needs. We can review your product, your shipping options, and other considerations, then create the packaging that maximizes your shipping dollars. We utilize materials that are ISPM 15 compliant, and have the stamp to prove it.
Or, if you are interested in a packaging solution that doesn’t fall under the ISPM 15 requirements, the Nefab plywood solutions do not come under ISPM 15 requirements. Because our plywood packaging solutions are constructed of materials that do not fall under the requirements, we can craft the perfect packaging and shipping solution without regard to the ISPM 15 standards.

Contact us today

Nefab is the leading provider of packaging and shipping solutions. Regardless of what you are shipping, and where you are shipping it to, we can help save you money and time. We would be happy to analyze your packaging and shipping chains and identify key areas where we can help you to save money and improve efficiencies.
If ISPM 15 compliance is a concern of yours, we can help with that, too. We can review your packaging and determine your best course of action. So contact us and let’s get started. We look forward to working with you!