When treated wood packaging is required
ISPM 15 is a plant-health standard. It exists because solid wood can carry pests between countries, so participating countries require wood packaging to be treated and marked before it crosses their border. Solid wood pallets, crates, cases and dunnage are the items usually caught by it.
For movements between Great Britain and the EU or Switzerland, these requirements applied from 1 January 2021 as part of the post-Brexit change in status — this is a long-standing position, not a new 2026 law. Requirements for destinations elsewhere vary, and movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland also have wood packaging requirements, with arrangements that differ from a straightforward GB movement. Always check the rules for your specific destination.
Official guidance: GOV.UK — wood packaging material for import and export.
What the IPPC mark contains
A compliant mark carries four things: the IPPC symbol, a two-letter country code such as GB, the registration code issued under the national programme to the producer or treatment provider responsible, and a treatment code — HT for heat treatment, the code relevant to our heat-treated range. Other approved treatment codes exist. Written out, a GB mark takes the form GB-XXXX-HT, where XXXX is that registration code.
To be clear about the illustrations on this site and on our product pages: any GB-XXXX code shown in an illustration is a sample for explanation only. It is not evidence that a particular pallet is certified, and it is not our registration number. Markings must be applied only by operators authorised under the relevant national programme.
Standard reference: IPPC — international standards for phytosanitary measures.
Used pallets, EPAL and CP types
Used pallets can be used for export where they carry a valid mark and suit the consignment. Used, repaired and re-manufactured wood packaging may qualify, provided the applicable treatment and marking requirements are met — but unauthorised repairs can invalidate compliance, and applying a mark yourself is never an option. Ask your supplier to verify the repair and treatment history of any used or repaired pallet before you ship.
Two common mix-ups are worth separating. A 1200 × 800 mm footprint is a size; EPAL is a separate licensed system with its own requirements, so a Euro-size pallet is not automatically an EPAL pallet. And a CP3 pallet is a pallet type used in the chemical industry, not proof of treatment. In both cases, look for the IPPC mark rather than the footprint or the oval.
Further reading: EPAL licensing FAQ and IPPC — ISPM 15 implementation.
The paper certificate misconception
Exporters often ask for an "ISPM 15 certificate" to accompany a load. For compliant wood packaging the mark itself is the paperless phytosanitary assurance, so there is no separate certificate that stands in for it, and no supplier document that substitutes for a proper mark. Anyone selling you a certificate as a replacement for marking is not solving the problem.
Equally, a marked pallet does not mean your shipment needs no other paperwork. The commercial and customs documentation still applies, and any plant-health requirements attaching to the goods themselves are a separate matter from the packaging they sit on.
Official guidance: GOV.UK — exporting wood, wood products and bark from Great Britain and GOV.UK — wood packaging for import and export.
Common questions
Does every pallet leaving the UK need an IPPC mark?
No — it depends on the packaging and the destination. Solid wood pallets, crates and dunnage are the items normally caught by the standard. Packaging made from processed wood such as plywood or particleboard, and wood no more than 6 mm thick, sits outside it, though other rules can still apply to your goods.
Who applies the mark?
Only operators authorised under the relevant national programme, using the registration code issued to the producer or treatment provider. Exporters and pallet users do not apply their own marks. If a marked pallet has been repaired, ask the supplier to verify its repair and treatment history before shipping.
Is a heat-treated pallet enough on its own?
For the wood packaging itself, the mark is the assurance. Your consignment still needs the commercial and customs documentation for the shipment, and any plant-health requirements attaching to the goods inside are a separate question.
What should I send for an export pallet quote?
Destination country, plus any transit country where it matters, pallet size or type, load weight and handling method, new or used, quantity, delivery postcode and the dispatch deadline. Our minimum supply order is 30 Pallets.