Going into technical terms, ISPM 15 is an international regulation that establishes the requirements for the heat treatment of wood used in foreign trade. It was first adopted by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in 2002, and has since been implemented in more than 100 countries around the world.
The main objective of the ISPM 15 standard is to prevent the spread of pests and diseases through the transport of wood and wood products. To achieve this, wood used in international trade is required to be heat treated prior to shipment.
Heat treatment involves heating wood to a specified temperature for a set period of time. The process must be carried out by an approved and certified service provider, and must comply with the technical specifications detailed in the ISPM 15 standard.
Heat treatment is carried out in specially designed drying chambers, using high-tech equipment and constant monitoring. Temperature and exposure time are critical to ensure that all pests and diseases are killed in the wood.
After treatment, the wood must be marked with a stamp indicating that it has been heat treated according to ISPM 15 standards. This stamp allows customs and phytosanitary control authorities to easily verify whether the wood meets the requirements of the regulation. .
It is important to note that ISPM 15 applies to raw wood and unmanufactured wood products, such as wooden pallets and boxes used for transportation. It does not apply to wood used in manufactured products such as furniture or musical instruments.
In summary, ISPM 15 is essential to protect the health of forests and prevent the spread of pests and diseases through international timber trade. The requirements for heat treatment and marking are rigorous and are designed to ensure that all wood products meet established quality and safety standards.
HOW TO COMPLY WITH THE ISPM-15 REGULATION
To comply with the regulations, it is necessary to follow a series of steps and processes that guarantee the correct application of heat treatment in wooden packaging. Next, we will detail each of them.
- Registration with the Competent Body : In order to apply the heat treatment, it is necessary to register with the Competent Body of each country. In Spain, this body is the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which is in charge of supervising and controlling compliance with the ISPM-15 regulation.
- Selection of wood : For a wooden packaging to be suitable for heat treatment, it is important that the wood meets certain requirements. In general, it is recommended to use dry, knot-free wood and avoid softwoods and high-moisture woods.
- Packaging marking : All wooden packaging that has undergone heat treatment must bear a mark specifying the type of treatment and the country of origin. This mark must be visible and permanent.
- Application of heat treatment : The heat treatment consists of subjecting the wooden packaging to a minimum temperature of 56°C for a minimum period of 30 minutes. The objective of this treatment is to eliminate any pest or insect that may be present in the wood.
- Treatment certification : Once the heat treatment has been applied, a certificate must be issued attesting that the wood packaging complies with the NIMF-15 standard. This certificate must include the date of application of the treatment, the type of treatment and the country of origin.
In short, the ISPM-15 regulation is a phytosanitary control measure that seeks to prevent the spread of pests and diseases through international trade in wood products. To comply with this regulation, it is necessary to follow the steps described above and ensure that the wooden packaging meets the established requirements. Heat treatment of wood and heat sealing for wood packaging are essential processes to ensure that products move safely and legally in foreign trade, thus contributing to safer and more sustainable international trade. . At EMBALEX , we have a highly specialized team in maritime containers that comply with all international regulations, including ISPM-15.
