Export Guide
Export Pallet Compliance for Australian Exporters
Everything Australian exporters need to know about ISPM 15 — the international standard for wooden pallet treatment.
What is ISPM 15?
ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is an international phytosanitary standard adopted by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It requires that wooden pallets and packaging used in international trade be treated to reduce the risk of carrying invasive insects and plant diseases.
Australia is a signatory. DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) administers compliance. Most of Australia's trading partners require ISPM 15 as a condition of entry.
Heat Treatment (HT) — The Standard Method
Core heat temperature requirement
56°C for 30 continuous minutes
Measured at the core of the thickest wood component
Heat treatment is the accepted method in Australia and by most of our trading partners. Methyl bromide (MB) treatment was phased out for ISPM 15 purposes in Australia and is no longer accepted by the EU.
The IPPC Mark
XX — 000 — AAAA
HT
Country code — Producer/treatment number — DB/HT/DH indicator
For Australia: the mark reads AU as country code, followed by the DAFF-registered treatment provider code, followed by the treatment method (HT).
Country Requirements
| Country | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | ISPM 15 HT required | Strictly enforced since 2004 |
| EU (all members) | ISPM 15 HT required | MB treatment no longer accepted |
| UK | ISPM 15 HT required | Post-Brexit enforcement maintained |
| China | ISPM 15 HT required | Strict — checks at all ports |
| Japan | ISPM 15 HT required | Ministry of Agriculture enforcement |
| New Zealand | Minimum debarking + HT | MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) |
| India | ISPM 15 HT required | NPPO India |
| Most other countries | ISPM 15 recommended | Check IPPC database for each country |
Step-by-Step Compliance Checklist
- 1 Confirm your destination country requires ISPM 15 — virtually all now do.
- 2 Source HT-marked pallets from a DAFF-registered treatment provider or manufacture your own as a DAFF Accredited Property.
- 3 Verify the IPPC mark on each pallet includes the correct elements: country code (AU), producer/treatment provider code, HT treatment indicator.
- 4 Keep treatment records — DAFF audits may request documentation.
- 5 Pack goods on compliant pallets before freight forwarding.
- 6 Include pallet origin documentation if your freight forwarder requires it.
Plastic pallets — ISPM 15 exempt
Plastic pallets are exempt from ISPM 15 as they do not present a wood pest risk. This is one reason exporters transitioning to high-volume export routes consider plastic pallets despite their higher upfront cost.
Need ISPM 15 compliant export pallets?
PalletFinder lists certified HT pallets from DAFF-registered suppliers across Australia.
Find Export Pallets →