Implementation of

Wood Packaging

Material Regulation 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has

revised its import regulation for wood packaging

material (WPM). The revised regulation is 

consistent with the International Standards for

Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM): Guidelines for

Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International

Trade (ISPM Publication No. 15), and restricts the

importation of many types of wooden packaging

materials such as pallets, crates, boxes, and 

dunnage.

The revised WPM regulation is effective as of

September 16, 2005. The regulation requires WPM

in use in international trade to be treated. The

approved treatments are 1) heat treatment to a 

minimum wood core temperature of 56oC for a 

minimum of 30 minutes or 2) fumigation with methyl

bromide (MB).

WPM also must be marked with the International

Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo and the

two–letter International Organization for 

Standardization (ISO) code for the country that 

treated the WPM. Additionally, WPM must be marked

with a unique number assigned by the national plant

protection organization to the treatment facility, and

either the abbreviation HT (heat treatment) or MB

(methyl bromide). Paper certifications (treatment 

certificates) are no longer required.

Example of the WPM mark:

XX represents the ISO country code.

000 represents the unique number assigned by the national

plant protection organization to the treatment facility.

YY represents either HT for heat treatment or MB for

methyl bromide fumigation.

Exemptions from New Requirements:

WPM made entirely of manufactured wood material (e.g. particle board, plywood, oriented strand

board), wine and whiskey barrels, and WPM with a

thickness of 6 mm or less are exempt from the treatment and marking requirements. WPM of Canadian

origin is also exempt from the treatment and marking

requirements (7 CFR 319.40-3).

First Year of Implementation (from present through September 15, 2005)

The revised WPM regulation is effective

September 16, 2005. During the 1–year phase–in

period, WPM may be imported if it is in compliance

with either current import requirements or ISPM No.

15.

Shipments Imported from China or Hong Kong must:

• Be accompanied by an exporter’s statement in 

the commercial invoice, bill of lading, or other 

similar document (including a paper or electronic 

manifest) stating that the shipment contains no 

WPM, or

• Be accompanied by a certificate signed by an 

official of the Chinese government or an 

approved Hong Kong fumigator stating that the 

wood was heat treated to a minimum of 71.1oC 

for 75 minutes or treated with T404 (methyl 

bromide or kiln dried) or its equivalent, or

• Have treated and marked WPM in compliance 

with ISPM No. 15.

WPM not in compliance with the above requirements must be destroyed or reexported.

WPM imported from all countries other than China or

Hong Kong must be:

• Free of bark, or

• Accompanied with documentation stating the 

WPM was treated with T404 (methyl bromide or 

kiln dried) or its equivalent, or heated to a 

minimum of 71.1oC for 75 minutes, or 

• Treated and marked in compliance with ISPM No.

15.

WPM not in compliance with the above 

requirements must be treated, destroyed or 

reexported.

Factsheet

Plant Protection and Quarantine November 2004

APHIS
Implementation After September 15, 2005

All regulated WPM must be treated and marked in

accordance with the regulation 7CFR 319.40-3(b).

WPM imported after September 15, 2005, without the

IPPC mark must be reexported. Treatment or destruction will not be permitted. Unmarked WPM may be

separated from the commodity being imported, if the

inspector determines separation can be done without

pest escape. A user fee will be assessed for supervising the separation of the WPM from the cargo.

Treatment will be allowed if hitchhiking 

(nonwood–boring) pests are intercepted with IPPC

marked WPM.

Additional Information

For more information on the wood packaging

material regulation, please visit this Web site:

www.aphis.usda.gov/ppa/swp/import.html.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 14th and

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call

(202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture