State Plant Health
and Seed Inspection Service

Using wood packaging, including pallets, in international trade to transport goods entails a risk of introduction of various pests and diseases. In order to eliminate the risk, a phytosanitary standard was developed for wood packaging - International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 ("Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade") under FAO International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

One of the rules set out in the standard is that wood used to manufacture wood packaging should undergo heat treatment to achieve core temperature of at least 56℃ for at least 30 minutes. The standard also allows other methods to be used, such as methyl bromide fumigation (not allowed in the EU), sulfuryl fluoride, or dielectric heating. To confirm the compliance with this requirement a special IPPC-approved mark and the treatment establishment number are placed on packaging. The above requirement does not apply to packaging composed fully of elements processed using glue, high temperature or pressure, such as particle boards, plywood, veneer, etc., as well as such materials as wood shavings, sawdust, wood wool, wood cut into thin strips (of less than 6 mm), etc.

Whether the abovementioned requirements apply to pallets exported out of the European Union depends on phytosanitary import rules of the country of destination. Other countries' rules may be found here SPPSI or IPPC. Since not all countries make their phytosanitary regulations available, yet the vast majority of countries require the use of ISPM No. 15, it is recommended to use wooden packaging that complies with ISPM No. 15 for exports to third countries.
This requirement does not apply to packaging in circulation among EU member states, and between the EU and Switzerland, with the exception of coniferous wood packaging moved out of Portugal (including Madeira) and certain parts of Spain located in autonomous communities of: Galicia and Castilla y León, due to the risk of introduction of pine wood nematode occurring in these countries.
The requirement for the treatment and marking of wood packaging material to comply with principles set out in ISPM No. 15 in situations indicated above, i.e. entry into the Union, exit from the Union, and movement within the Union, where required by specific legislation, is stipulated in Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016. on protective measures against pests of plants. This Regulation applies directly (without transposition into national law) in all EU Member States.
In accordance with current arrangements, and with the approval of the Chief Plant Protection and Seed Inspector, before a facility is granted a number to mark wood packaging material (WPM) it is audited, and subsequently supervised by the Łukasiewicz Research Network - Wood Technology Institute in Poznań (www.itd.poznan.pl), Phytosanitary Requirements Team tel. 61 84-92-449, https://www.itd.poznan.pl/pl/instytut/o-nas/struktura/zespol-ds-wymagan-fitosanitarnych. As of 14 December 2019 under new plant health regulations, all EU Member States are required to revise their national systems for authorising facilities performing treatments and applying WPM marking according to ISPM Standard No. 15.

Also, please note that violations of regulations on the use of wooden packaging in exports of goods to third countries may be fined by Voivodeship Plant Protection and Seed Inspectors, under Article 58, paragraph 2, point 3, of the Plant Protection Against Pests Act of 13 February 2020.