Heat-Treated (ISPM-15) Pallets: Export Requirements Explained
If you ship internationally on solid-wood pallets, you almost certainly need ISPM-15-compliant (heat-treated) pallets. ISPM-15 is the global standard that regulates wood packaging material to stop pests from crossing borders.
What ISPM-15 and “HT” mean
ISPM-15 requires wood packaging (pallets, crates, dunnage) used in international trade to be treated to kill wood-boring pests. The most common method is heat treatment (HT): the wood core is heated to at least 56°C (133°F) for a minimum of 30 minutes.
Compliant pallets carry a stamp with the IPPC “wheat” logo, a country code, a unique facility number, and the treatment code — HT for heat treatment.
HT vs. KD vs. MB
HT (Heat Treated) is the standard for export compliance. KD (Kiln Dried) reduces moisture but is not the same as ISPM-15 treatment unless it also meets the HT requirement (you may see “HT/KD”).
MB (Methyl Bromide) was an older chemical fumigation method. It is being phased out and banned in many countries — check the destination’s current rules before relying on MB-stamped pallets.
When you need them
You need ISPM-15 pallets for international shipments that use solid-wood packaging. Domestic shipments within the same country generally do not require ISPM-15.
Plastic, presswood/molded, and corrugated pallets are exempt because they aren’t solid raw wood — a common workaround for frequent exporters.