GuidesStampFour parts
Reading the ISPM 15 stamp
The ISPM 15 stamp is a small mark burned or stamped onto wood packaging. It proves the wood was treated against pests, and a pallet that leaves the country without it can be stopped at the border.
What is in the mark
| Part | Looks like | Tells you |
|---|---|---|
| IPPC symbol | A small wheat-ear logo | The wood meets the international standard |
| Country code | Two letters, such as US | Where the treatment happened |
| Producer number | A unique code | Which facility treated it |
| Treatment code | HT for heat treatment | How it was treated |
What the treatment is
Heat treatment requires the core of the wood to reach at least 56 °C for at least 30 minutes. Wood must also be debarked first; any bark left must be under 3 cm wide, or if wider, under 50 square cm in area.
What the stamp does not promise
- It does not say the pallet is clean or dry. Heat treatment does not make wood immune to mould.
- It does not say the pallet is new; a used pallet keeps its stamp.
- It does not cover plastic or metal pallets, which need no treatment.
- It does not survive a repair that adds untreated boards.
The last point matters. A repaired pallet with new, unstamped boards is a mixed object. Importers and customs checkers look for the mark on every piece. See heat-treated or untreated and the export guide.
Reading one on a real pallet
Find the mark on a block or stringer end, usually near the middle of a side face. Check the country code first, then the treatment code. A pallet carrying the mark on only one face may be rejected by strict inspectors, so look at the opposite side too. Smudged or painted-over stamps count as missing. If you cannot read it in daylight, assume an inspector will not either.
Where stamps come from
Only certified facilities may apply the mark, and each carries a unique code. If a buyer doubts a stamp, the code lets an inspector trace the pallet to its source. A hand-drawn or photocopied imitation is a serious problem, so be cautious with pallets whose marks look uneven or faded.
Common mistakes
People often confuse a producer's brand with the treatment mark, or assume a kiln-dried label means heat-treated. Others find the mark on one board and assume every board is covered. Check the mark on each piece that will cross a border.
Need stamped pallets? Ask.
Sources, last reviewed November 2026: