How to Read the IPPC Stamp on a Wooden Pallet

Every ISPM 15-compliant wooden pallet carries an IPPC mark — a stamp burned, branded, or ink-marked directly into the wood. But what does each part of the mark actually mean? And how do you know if a stamp is genuine? Here's a complete guide.

Why the IPPC Stamp Matters

The IPPC stamp is the only internationally recognised proof that a wooden pallet has been treated and certified under ISPM 15. Without this mark, customs authorities in over 180 countries can reject, re-treat, or destroy the pallet — along with your goods.

Even if a pallet has genuinely been heat-treated, it is considered non-compliant if it does not carry the correct IPPC mark. The stamp is not optional.

What the IPPC Stamp Contains

A standard IPPC mark includes four components:

1. The IPPC Wheat Symbol

The distinctive wheat-ear symbol identifies the mark as an official IPPC certification. It must appear on every compliant pallet and cannot be reproduced by uncertified manufacturers.

2. The Country Code

This is the ISO two-letter country code indicating where the pallet was manufactured and treated. For pallets made in Sri Lanka, this will be LK.

If you see a pallet stamped with LK, it was produced in Sri Lanka. Other common codes include CN (China), IN (India), MY (Malaysia), and DE (Germany).

3. The Producer/Treatment Provider Code

This is a unique registration number assigned to the manufacturer by the national plant protection authority. In Sri Lanka, these codes are issued by the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS).

This code traces the pallet back to its specific manufacturer. If there is ever a compliance question, customs authorities use this number to verify the producer's registration status.

4. The Treatment Method

This abbreviation indicates how the pallet was treated:

Always check for HT if your shipment is bound for the EU, UK, or any market that no longer accepts MB.

What a Valid IPPC Stamp Looks Like

A complete, valid mark will show all four elements together: the wheat symbol, the country code, the producer registration number, and the treatment abbreviation. The mark is typically applied to at least two opposite sides of the pallet so it is visible regardless of how the pallet is oriented.

Red Flags: Signs of a Non-Compliant Stamp

Watch out for pallets that have a stamp missing any of the four components, a treatment method of "MB" on EU-bound shipments, a producer code that cannot be verified with the national authority, or a stamp that appears printed on a label rather than marked directly into the wood — labels can be removed or transferred and are not accepted as genuine IPPC marks.

CeyPall's IPPC Registration

CeyPall (Pvt) Ltd is officially registered with the National Plant Quarantine Service of Sri Lanka. Every pallet we manufacture carries our registered IPPC mark — including the LK country code, our unique producer code, and the HT treatment designation. A treatment certificate is provided with every order.

If a customer or customs authority ever needs to verify our registration, we can provide our NPQS certification documents on request.