The IPPC Mark Explained

To protect global plant resources and promote safe trade, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) established the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in 1988. The IPPC is an international treaty that seeks to safeguard both wild and cultivated plants by halting the spread of pests. As of today, 195 countries are members of the IPPC, which is now officially recognized by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

For any company shipping products to an IPPC member country using wood packaging, it is critical to ensure that crates, pallets and dunnage comply with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15), which regulates wood packaging material in international trade. A main component of ISPM 15 compliance is the official IPPC mark, which is used to confirm that the wood has been properly treated.

Requirements of the IPPC Mark

All wooden crates, pallets and dunnage intended for international distribution have to be marked with an IPPC pallet stamp. To ensure they are easy for customs workers and regulatory authorities to identify, these stamps must be clearly shown on two opposing faces of the storage unit. Each IPPC stamp must contain the following information.

IPPC Symbol

This registered mark indicates the wood packaging is certified for international transport. It is required to be printed on every IPPC-compliant crate and pallet and incorporates the organization's leaf logo. Dunnage stamping requires its own special marking.

Country Code

This geographic identifier specifies where the pallet was treated and prepared using two letters. Examples of country codes include “US” for the United States, “CH” for Switzerland, and “UA” for Ukraine, with a hyphen and the individual code of the treatment provider or producer following the country code.

Producer or Treatment Provider Code

The National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) assigns a unique code to each certified wood treatment provider and pallet manufacturer. This code identifies the specific entity responsible for the treatment.

Treatment Code

This label represents the method of treatment employed on the crate and pallet. The primary treatment codes are:

  • HT: The wood was heat-treated
  • MB: The wood underwent Methyl Bromide fumigation
  • DB: The wood was debarked
  • KD: The wood was kiln-dried

ISPM 15 Compliant Crates, Pallets & Packaging from Quality Support

With over 25 years of experience, Quality Support, LLC is a professional packaging organization that serves as a one-stop shop for wood packaging solutions. Based in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, our team designs and builds long-lasting wooden crates, pallets and skids perfect for the secure loading, transit, and storage – all at a cost-efficient price.

Our capabilities allow us to support even the most complex packaging and shipping projects. We are an experienced governmental contract packager and can administer wood preservatives to meet a variety of Mil-Spec standards.

Additional capabilities include:

  • Low lead times. We offer low lead times on custom wooden pallets and skids thanks to our in-house lumber capabilities.
  • Custom design. We choose the optimal lumber grade and design for your load and material handling needs.
  • Flexible configurations. We can make durable four-way configurations to enable access from any side for forklifts or pallet jacks, thereby maximizing efficiency.

Partner with Quality Support for Your IPPC Pallet Needs

For top-quality wood IPPC crates, pallets and dunnage that meet ISPM 15 international regulations, trust the experts at Quality Support, LLC. We manufacture stamped, heat-treated crates, pallets and skids for a wide range of applications and can design custom solutions based on your drawings and specifications. Our team is ready to help you select the ideal custom wood pallet for your project’s requirements.

To learn more about our ISPM 15-compliant packaging, request a quote today.