What is ISPM 15 and Why Does It Matter for Sri Lankan Exporters?

ISPM 15 is the international standard that requires all wooden packaging materials used in cross-border trade — including pallets — to be heat treated and stamped with an IPPC mark. Without it, your shipment can be rejected at the destination port.

If you export goods from Sri Lanka, you've likely come across the term ISPM 15. But what does it actually mean — and why can your shipment be rejected at the border without it?

What is ISPM 15?

ISPM 15 stands for International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15. It is a global standard developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that regulates wooden packaging materials used in international trade.

The standard was introduced to prevent the spread of invasive insects and plant diseases — such as the Asian longhorned beetle and pine wood nematode — that can hide inside raw timber and travel undetected across borders.

Countries that have adopted ISPM 15 require that all wooden packaging materials — including pallets, crates, dunnage, and wooden spools — be treated and certified before entry.

Which Countries Require ISPM 15?

Over 180 countries have adopted ISPM 15, including all of Sri Lanka's major export destinations:

If your pallet is not ISPM 15 compliant when it arrives in any of these countries, customs authorities can quarantine, treat, or destroy your shipment — at your cost.

What Does ISPM 15 Treatment Involve?

There are two approved treatment methods under ISPM 15:

Heat Treatment (HT) — Most Common

The wood is heated in a kiln until the core temperature reaches 56°C for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes. This kills all insects and larvae living inside the timber.

Heat treatment is the most widely accepted method globally and the treatment method used by CeyPall.

Methyl Bromide Fumigation (MB)

A chemical gas treatment that was once widely used but is now being phased out globally due to its environmental impact. Many countries, including the EU, no longer accept MB-treated pallets.

What is the IPPC Stamp?

After treatment, every ISPM 15-compliant pallet must carry the official IPPC mark — a stamp burned or branded directly into the wood.

The stamp contains:

Without this stamp, even a treated pallet is considered non-compliant.

Who Can Certify ISPM 15 Pallets in Sri Lanka?

In Sri Lanka, ISPM 15 heat treatment providers must be registered with the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) under the Department of Agriculture.

CeyPall (Pvt) Ltd is an IPPC-registered, NPQS-certified pallet manufacturer based in Kochchikade. We supply ISPM 15-compliant, heat-treated, IPPC-stamped pallets with a treatment certificate included with every order.

For industry-specific ISPM 15 guidance, see our pages on pallets for tea export, apparel export pallets, coconut export pallets, rubber export pallets, and spice & cinnamon export pallets.

Why Does This Matter for Your Business?

Getting ISPM 15 wrong can cost your business in multiple ways:

Using a certified pallet manufacturer from the start is far cheaper than dealing with a rejected shipment halfway around the world.