Freight glossaryInternational ShippingCustomsEquipment
ISPM 15
Definition
ISPM 15 is the international standard for wood packaging material, such as pallets, crates and dunnage, that requires it to be heat-treated or fumigated and marked before it moves in international trade.
What it means
In U.S. law the requirement is in 7 CFR 319.40-3: regulated wood packaging may enter only if it has been treated and carries the approved mark, and an inspector may order wood that arrives without the mark to be re-exported.[1] CBP enforces it at the border and lists pallets, crates, dunnage and skids among covered items.[2]
Wood packaging used only inside the U.S. does not need the mark,[2] but exports may, depending on the destination. What inspectors check and what happens when wood fails is in ISPM 15 wood pallets.
Related
Related terms
- PalletA pallet is a flat, portable platform, usually wood, with a top deck and a bottom structure that lets a stack...Glossary
- DunnageDunnage is loose material used to support and protect cargo, such as boards, blocks, void fill and inflatable...Glossary
- RepalletizingRepalletizing is moving freight onto a new or different pallet, or building loose cartons onto pallets, so...Glossary
Related guides
Sources
- Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, “7 CFR § 319.40-3, Wood packaging material: general permits and marking,” Federal regulation. Accessed September 2026.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, “Frequently Asked Questions on Wood Packaging Materials,” Government guidance. Accessed September 2026.
General operational information, not legal, customs or regulatory advice. Rules and rates change; confirm current requirements with the agency, carrier or contract that governs your shipment.