ISPM 15: an imperative for the environment and exports

Do you need boxes for the secure transport and export of industrial products? Our design office provides you with tailor-made solutions, whatever your sector is: chemistry, metallurgy, defense, mechanical industry, etc.

Our plywood folding boxes can be shipped anywhere in the world because of their reliability and compliance with the ISPM 15 standard. But what does this standard actually correspond to?

The certification

 

We have recently reviewed all the labels, certifications and approvals that NO-NAIL BOXES has obtained as part of our constant concern for improvement and quality. The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 – ISPM 15 – is one of them. It relates to the regulation of wood-based packaging materials. Its objective is to reduce the spread of organisms harmful to plants. This phenomenon is notably generated by the transport of wood-based packaging, particularly in the context of exports. ISPM 15 has been adopted by the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It is defined by the “Regulation of Wood Packaging Materials Used in International Trade” (2018). It was first adopted in March 2002 and has been the subject of numerous revision sessions. Its objective is to standardize measures to prevent the infestation of the forests of an importing country by pests in wood packaging material. Thus, the wood is treated in such a way as to limit the risks linked to the introduction or spread of diseases and insects that could adversely affect plants or ecosystems.

The different wood treatments, exemptions and markings

 

Since 2018, two types of treatment are approved for wood packaging materials:

  • wood debarked and then treated with methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride
  • debarked wood with heat treatment before or after debarking

In terms of packaging, several items may be exempt from ISPM 15, and in the case of wooden boxes, these are:

  • packaging material made entirely of thin wood (6 mm or less in thickness)
  • “packaging materials made entirely from processed wood material, such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer using glue, heat or pressure or a combination thereof” (see page 7 of the reference document).

In terms of marking, we strictly adhere to the required elements: symbol, country code, producer/company code responsible for applying the treatment as well as treatment code according to the methods used.

The characters used and the position of the mark may vary, but the size must be sufficient for the marking to be seen and read without visual aid. The marking must be recorded in a rectangle or square with a vertical line separating the symbol from the code elements. We use a stencil for this purpose and it is essential to aim for perfect neatness.

A must for the protection of the environment… and for customs!

 

The treatments prevent the spread of insects such as the Pinewood Nematode – a worm that attacks pine – or the Asian Capricorn, which can damage several hardwood species. Today, this export directive concerns a majority of countries, nearly 80 on all continents in total.

Beyond the environmental responsibility it implies, compliance with ISPM 15 allows you to guarantee your customers the delivery of your products by avoiding as much as possible delays, blockages and sometimes even returns of your goods.

This is why we are committed to strict compliance with this essential standard, every day and at your side! Customer satisfaction is our priority, and we will come back very soon on the concrete advantages of this almost unavoidable standard.