The UN agency overseeing IPPC and the ISPM-15 standard for wood packaging.
Detailed Definition
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), founded in 1945 and based in Rome, hosts the secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention. Phytosanitary standards such as ISPM 15 are adopted by the IPPC's governing body, the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, and published through the IPPC. FAO does not inspect, stamp or certify pallets. That work is done by each country's national plant protection organization, which in the United States is USDA APHIS.
How FAO, the IPPC and ISPM 15 fit together
FAO is the parent organization. The IPPC is an international treaty deposited with FAO, and its secretariat sits at FAO headquarters. Member countries meet in the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures to adopt International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures, known as ISPMs. ISPM 15 is the one that regulates wood packaging material in international trade. It was first adopted in 2002 and has been revised since, so older copies may not reflect the current text.
What FAO documents mean for pallet users
Pallet buyers rarely deal with FAO directly. What matters is the current text of ISPM 15 published by the IPPC, and how your own country and the destination country apply it. National rules add details, such as how marks are registered and how noncompliant packaging is handled at the border.
- Use the current ISPM 15 text, not an old copy found elsewhere online.
- Check national guidance in both the exporting and importing countries.
- Treat any claim of an FAO approved pallet with caution, because FAO does not approve products.
Where to find the current wood packaging rules
The IPPC publishes ISPM 15 and its annexes, which set out approved treatments and the mark format. Annexes are updated from time to time as new treatments are approved. National agencies then publish their own procedures for enrolling treatment facilities and inspecting imports. For day to day questions, the national program in your country is usually the most practical source.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FAO the same as the IPPC?
No. FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works on food and agriculture broadly. The IPPC is a separate international treaty on plant health. FAO hosts the IPPC secretariat and supports its work, but standards such as ISPM 15 are adopted by the treaty's member countries through the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures. In practice people often mention FAO and the IPPC together when they talk about the wood packaging standard.
Does FAO certify heat-treated pallets?
No. FAO and the IPPC set the international standard, but they do not run treatment facilities or issue marks. Each country's national plant protection organization authorizes producers and treatment providers. In the United States that is USDA APHIS, with the American Lumber Standard Committee running the wood packaging program through accredited inspection agencies. A valid mark carries a registration number that traces back to that national program, not to FAO.