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ISPM-15 Heat-Treatment Certification

At Joseph Forest Enterprises, Inc. we are certified to provide heat-treated wood products, a concept which is becoming more prevalent in today’s export trade market. We have an onsite heat-treatment facility to meet the growing demand for heat-treatment of wood packaging products for those customers shipping pallets outside the United States.

Compliance with ISPM-15 for wood packaging materials requires that these materials be heat-treated in order to meet the requirements for exported cargo. Below is a sample of a stamp which reflects a symbol of this certification. In the past, this requirement was geared more towards the pine species. Nowadays, Hardwood is no longer exempt. ISPM 15 requirements apply to every species of coniferous (softwood) and non-coniferous (hardwood) wood packaging materials.

There are two important elements that apply to this compliance:

1. Heat Treatment (HT): Wood packaging material should be heated in a schedule that achieves a minimum core temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes. The American Lumber Standards Committee administers the U.S. certification program for heat treatment.

2. Methyl Bromide (MB) Fumigation: The wood packaging material should be fumigated with methyl bromide. NWPCA has been tasked by the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to administer the fumigation program.

For the latest information on international treatment requirements, please visit the USDA's web site.