When pallets leave Finland for a destination outside the EU, ordinary pallets are not enough: you often need heat-treated pallets that carry the ISPM 15 mark. Without the correct treatment and stamp, wooden export packaging can be held at customs in the destination country, which delays the entire delivery and causes extra costs.
In this article we explain clearly what a heat-treated pallet is, what the ISPM 15 standard is, what the correct marking looks like and when a heat-treated pallet is really needed. We also explain which packaging is exempt from the requirement and how to make sure your export pallets are in order. Suomen Lavacenter supplies heat-treated export pallets, so we are happy to help you choose the right solution.
What is a heat-treated pallet?
A heat-treated pallet is a wooden pallet whose timber has been heated to a specified core temperature to kill pests and their larvae. The purpose of the treatment is to prevent harmful insects and fungal diseases from spreading from one country to another with wooden packaging material. A heat-treated pallet is also known as an export pallet, because it is used above all in international transport.
Heat treatment is not the same as ordinary drying. The wood is heated under controlled conditions so that its core temperature reaches at least 56 °C and stays there continuously for at least 30 minutes. The treatment is carried out at an authorised facility, after which the pallet receives the official marking. In Finland, official plant health control is the responsibility of the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto).
What is the ISPM 15 standard?
ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is an international standard that regulates the treatment of wooden packaging material in world trade. It covers, among other things, pallets, wooden crates, reels and the support timber used in transport, known as dunnage. The aim of the standard is to protect the forests and crops of destination countries from non-native pests.
In practice, ISPM 15 means that packaging made of solid wood must be treated using an approved method, most commonly heat treatment (HT), and marked with the official IPPC stamp. The standard is used in dozens of countries around the world, and more and more countries require it for imported wood packaging.
The ISPM 15 mark or IPPC stamp: what does it say?
A genuine heat-treated pallet can be recognised by its IPPC stamp. The stamp is burnt or stamped permanently into the wood, it must be clearly legible and it is usually found on at least two opposite sides of the pallet. The stamp must not be hand-drawn, and it must not be red or orange. The mark consists of the following parts:
- IPPC symbol: a symbol resembling an ear of wheat that indicates official treatment.
- Country code: for example FI for wood treated in Finland.
- Facility or registration number: identifies the authorised operator that carried out the treatment.
- Treatment code: HT means heat treatment. In addition, the wood must be debarked, which may be indicated with the mark DB (debarked).
If you see this stamp on the side of a pallet, it is an export pallet that meets the ISPM 15 requirements. A ”EUR” or ”EPAL” stamp on its own says nothing about heat treatment: these marks relate to the pallet’s standard dimensions and exchangeability, not to phytosanitary treatment.
When do you need heat-treated pallets?
This is the most important question about export pallets. The basic rule is simple: heat treatment is needed when wooden packaging crosses the EU’s external border.
Transport within the EU
When goods are moved within the EU single market, ISPM 15 treatment is generally not required, because the EU is a single plant health area. For domestic transport and transport between EU countries you can therefore usually use standard untreated wooden pallets.
Exports outside the EU
When goods are exported outside the EU, most destination countries require the ISPM 15 mark on wood packaging. In that case pallets, crates and dunnage must be heat-treated and carry the IPPC stamp. Requirements vary from country to country and can change, so always check the destination country’s current requirements before shipping.
The United Kingdom and special cases
Since Brexit, the United Kingdom has also required ISPM 15 treatment for wood packaging coming from the EU. This is worth remembering, as many people still assume that export pallets are not needed for exports to Britain. Whenever you are unsure, choose a heat-treated pallet: it is also accepted at destinations where treatment is not required.
How is the wood heat-treated?
Heat treatment is carried out in a special chamber or kiln in which the wood is heated under controlled conditions. What matters is not the air temperature but the core temperature of the wood, which must reach at least 56 °C and stay there continuously for at least 30 minutes. This ensures that any pests and larvae are killed inside the wood as well.
Heat treatment is an environmentally friendly method, as it uses no chemicals. Methyl bromide fumigation (MB), which used to be common, is banned in the EU, so heat treatment (HT) is in practice the method you will see on a Finnish export pallet. As a side benefit, the treatment also dries the wood, making the pallet slightly lighter and less prone to mould.
Which packaging does ISPM 15 cover, and what is exempt?
ISPM 15 applies to packaging made of solid wood, i.e. raw sawn timber, with a wood thickness of more than 6 mm. This includes pallets, pallet collars, wooden crates, reels and dunnage.
However, several materials are exempt from the requirement:
- Engineered wood panels: plywood, OSB, chipboard and fibreboard, which are manufactured using glue, heat and pressure.
- Thin wood no more than 6 mm thick.
- Plastic and metal pallets and cardboard packaging: they contain no organic wood that would require treatment.
This is exactly why many exporting companies consider plastic pallets: they automatically fall outside the ISPM 15 requirement. We compare the materials in more detail in the article plastic or wooden pallets.
Heat-treated wooden pallet or plastic pallet for export?
If you export a lot, the choice between a heat-treated wooden pallet and a plastic pallet often comes up. A heat-treated wooden pallet is affordable and works everywhere, but it requires the correct treatment and stamp. A plastic pallet, on the other hand, is completely exempt from the ISPM 15 requirement, which removes one source of uncertainty; the trade-off is a higher purchase price.
A rough rule of thumb: for one-off and cost-sensitive export shipments, a heat-treated wooden pallet is a sensible and affordable choice, whereas for recurring, large or particularly exacting exports a plastic pallet can simplify logistics. We can help you compare the options from the point of view of your own exports.
Benefits of heat-treated pallets
- Suitable for export: meets the ISPM 15 requirements for destinations outside the EU and for the UK.
- Removes the customs risk: a correctly marked pallet will not be held at customs in the destination country because of wood packaging requirements.
- Chemical-free and safe: heat treatment does not use any toxic substances.
- Lighter and drier: the treatment dries the wood, so the pallet is slightly lighter and less prone to mould.
- Affordable: as a wooden pallet, a heat-treated pallet is cheaper to buy than a plastic pallet.
The most common mistakes with export pallets
- Using an untreated wooden pallet for export. A standard EUR or FIN pallet without the HT stamp is not accepted outside the EU.
- A missing or unclear stamp. A treated pallet without a visible, legible IPPC stamp can still be held at customs.
- Mistaking the EUR stamp for an export mark. EUR/EPAL relates to dimensions and exchange, not to heat treatment.
- The marking on a repaired pallet. If a pallet is repaired by replacing wooden parts, the marking may need to be renewed, so make sure a repaired pallet carries a valid stamp.
- Assuming EU rules apply elsewhere. The EU’s internal exemption does not apply to exports, so always check the destination country’s requirements, including for the UK.
How to make sure you have the right export pallets: a checklist
Go through these points before an export shipment:
- Is the shipment going outside the EU (or to the UK)? If so, you need heat-treated pallets.
- Do the pallets carry a clear IPPC stamp (ear of wheat, country code, facility number, HT)?
- Are crates, collars and dunnage also treated if they are made of solid wood?
- Have the destination country’s current requirements been checked?
- Do you need a wooden pallet, or would a plastic pallet (exempt from ISPM 15) make more sense for this export?
- Is the supplier reliable and are the markings in order?
Heat-treated pallets in a nutshell
A heat-treated pallet is a wooden pallet intended for export whose wood has been heated to at least 56 °C to kill pests and which is marked with the IPPC stamp. It is needed when wooden packaging is exported outside the EU or to the UK. Within the EU, treatment is generally not required. The alternative to wood is a plastic pallet, which is exempt from the ISPM 15 requirement.
Why buy heat-treated pallets from Suomen Lavacenter?
Suomen Lavacenter supplies heat-treated export pallets as well as standard EUR pallets, FIN pallets and other pallets for domestic use. We help you choose correctly treated and marked pallets for export so that your shipment clears customs without surprises. If needed, we can compare with you whether a heat-treated wooden pallet or a plastic pallet is the better choice for your exports. Deliveries are handled quickly throughout Finland. For larger orders, deliveries outside Finland can be arranged case by case.
Summary
Heat treatment and the ISPM 15 mark are the key to smooth exports: they ensure that a wooden pallet clears customs in the destination country and does not spread pests. Remember that treatment is usually not needed within the EU, but for exports outside the EU and to the UK a heat-treated, correctly stamped pallet is essential. Always check the destination country’s current requirements, or ask us and we will make sure you have the right export pallets.
Need heat-treated export pallets quickly? Suomen Lavacenter helps you choose the right solution and delivers pallets to suit your needs. Call +358 29 170 3899, email info@suomenlavacenter.fi or send a quote request.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ISPM 15 standard?
ISPM 15 is an international standard that regulates the treatment of wooden packaging material, such as pallets, crates and dunnage, in world trade. Its purpose is to prevent pests from spreading from one country to another. Solid wood packaging must be heat-treated and marked with the IPPC stamp.
What does the HT mark on a pallet mean?
HT stands for heat treatment. It is part of the IPPC stamp and shows that the core temperature of the wood has been raised to at least 56 °C for at least 30 minutes to kill pests.
Do pallets need to be heat-treated for transport within the EU?
Generally not. The EU is a single plant health area, so for domestic transport and transport between EU countries you can usually use standard untreated wooden pallets. Heat treatment is needed above all for exports outside the EU.
Do you need heat-treated pallets for the UK?
Yes. Since Brexit, the UK has required ISPM 15 treatment for wood packaging coming from the EU, so exports to the UK need heat-treated pallets with the IPPC stamp.
How can I recognise a heat-treated pallet?
A heat-treated pallet can be recognised by its IPPC stamp, which shows a symbol resembling an ear of wheat, a country code (e.g. FI), the treatment facility’s number and the treatment code HT. The stamp is burnt or stamped permanently into the wood and is usually found on at least two sides of the pallet.
What temperature is the wood heated to during heat treatment?
The core temperature of the wood must reach at least 56 °C and stay there continuously for at least 30 minutes. What counts is the temperature inside the wood, not just the air temperature.
What is the difference between a heat-treated wooden pallet and a plastic pallet for export?
A heat-treated wooden pallet meets the ISPM 15 requirements thanks to its treatment and stamp. A plastic pallet is completely exempt from ISPM 15 because it contains no wood. A plastic pallet costs more to buy, but it removes the need for treatment and a stamp.
Is the heat treatment mark on a used pallet still valid?
Heat treatment, once carried out, stays in the wood, but if the pallet has been repaired by replacing wooden parts, the marking may need to be renewed. Make sure a used export pallet has a clear, valid IPPC stamp.
Which packaging is not covered by ISPM 15?
Exempt from the requirement are engineered wood panels (plywood, OSB, chipboard, fibreboard), thin wood no more than 6 mm thick, and plastic, metal and cardboard packaging. These need neither heat treatment nor the IPPC stamp.
