USDA-APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) administers ISPM-15 in the United States.
Detailed Definition
APHIS is the US Department of Agriculture agency that protects American agriculture from plant pests and animal diseases. It is the US national plant protection organization under the IPPC, so it sets US rules for wood packaging material based on ISPM 15. Import requirements for wood packaging are in the wood article regulations at 7 CFR 319.40. For exports, APHIS oversees a program in which the American Lumber Standard Committee accredits inspection agencies that monitor treatment providers and their marks.
Import side: who checks wood packaging at the border
APHIS writes the rules, but at US ports of entry wood packaging is usually inspected by US Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists. Wood packaging without a valid ISPM 15 mark, or with live pests, can be refused and ordered re-exported, with the importer bearing the cost and delay. Importers should ask overseas suppliers to use properly treated and marked pallets and crates.
Export side: how US pallets get an ISPM 15 mark
US pallet makers and treatment providers that want to apply the ISPM 15 mark join a program run by an inspection agency accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee. The agency audits the facility, assigns its registration number and monitors treatment records and marking. The mark then shows the IPPC symbol, the US country code, the facility number and a treatment code such as HT. For other regulated plant products, exporters may need a phytosanitary certificate, which APHIS issues.
Checking destination rules
Importing countries can add requirements beyond ISPM 15. APHIS publishes export requirement information by country, so check the destination's current rules before shipping, and keep treatment and marking records available in case a customer or inspector asks.
Authoritative Sources
- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS): the USDA agency that serves as the US national plant protection organization and sets US wood packaging material rules based on ISPM-15.
- International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC): the United Nations body that maintains the ISPM-15 international wood packaging standard.
Related Glossary Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
Does APHIS stamp or certify pallets?
No. APHIS does not stamp individual pallets. In the US, ISPM 15 marks are applied by registered pallet manufacturers or treatment providers that take part in a program run by an ALSC-accredited inspection agency, which audits them and monitors their treatment and marking. APHIS sets the national framework as the national plant protection organization and handles import regulations and phytosanitary certification.
What happens if an import arrives on unmarked wood pallets?
Wood packaging without a valid ISPM 15 mark, or with live pests, can be refused entry. A typical outcome is an order to re-export the wood packaging, often with the cargo still on it, at the importer's expense, plus delays while the problem is resolved. The exact action depends on the case. Confirming treated, marked packaging with the supplier before shipment avoids most of these problems.