FAO-ISPM15 Standard

Regulation of Wood Packaging Material (WPM) in International Trade

International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 is the Phytosanitary Regulation issued by FAO at IPPC - International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and describes the phytosanitary measures in order to reduce the risk of introduction and/or spread of plant pests and diseases by using specially untreated wooden packaging material (WPM) in international trade.

The Regulation refers to conifer or broad-leaved untreated wooden packaging material (WPM) (hardwood); therefore it contemplates all wooden packagings, except for the ones entirely composed by wood based products created through the use of adhesives, heat and pressure (for instance plywood) or wood with thicknees lower than mm. 6.

The approved measures for the wooden packaging material are:

the heat treatment (HT)

the fumigation treatment with methyl bromide (MB)
Note:
The Fumigation Treatment with the use of methyl bromide (MB) is forbidden in EU starting from March 2010.

FAO Standard ISPM no.15 is by now worldwide operating and, most certainly, more and more Countries will require wooden packagings for exportation in compliance with the Regulation.