ISPM 15 wooden pallets – mandatory requirement for transport to the UK [2026]

This is a detail that can halt the entire transport. After Brexit, the United Kingdom became a third country, meaning the EU's free movement of goods no longer applies... including wood pests.

All wooden packaging materials (WPM - Wood Packaging Material) entering from the EU to the UK (and vice versa) must meet the international standard ISPM 15.

What is ISPM 15?

This is a sanitary standard preventing pest spread (e.g. pine weevil). It requires wood to be heat-treated (56°C for 30 minutes) and properly marked.

This applies to:

• Pallets.
• Wooden crates.
• Cable drums.
• Dunnage wood used to secure cargo.

Not applicable to:

• Processed wood (plywood, chipboard, OSB) – glue and pressing eliminate pests.
• Plastic pallets.
• Cardboards.

How to recognise a pallet compliant with ISPM 15?

Must have a burnt-in stamp (the so-called IPPC "ear of corn"). The marking includes:

• IPPC logo (wheat ear).
• Country code (e.g. PL).
• Manufacturer's number.
• Processing code (usually HT - Heat Treatment).

Does a standard Europallet (EPAL) meet the standard?

Yes. Original EPAL/UIC pallets are produced according to ISPM 15 standard and undergo heat treatment. Using certified euro pallets ensures safety.

The issues are:

• "Single-use" pallets nailed from raw boards at the plant.
• Old pallets with illegible markings.
• Wooden blocks and beams used to support machinery.

What are the consequences of missing ISPM 15?

If the border inspection (PHSI - Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate) detects wood without markings: 1. Entry refusal – The goods (including the entire vehicle) may be returned to Poland. 2. Need for repackaging – Sometimes "transshipment" at the border onto compliant pallets is possible (a logistical nightmare). 3. Destruction of packaging – At the importer's expense.

Practice at the UK border

Phytosanitary inspections are random but increasingly frequent. Under the BTOM (Border Target Operating Model), wooden packaging is considered a risk. Drivers report that customs officers check not only pallets under the goods but also the load-securing beams on the trailer.

What you must do as an exporter?

1. Buy only certified pallets. Check if they have the IPPC mark. 2. Check the dunnage wood. If you use blocking boards for securing goods, they must also have the HT stamp. 3. Declare compliance. It is advisable to add a note on the commercial invoice or waybill: "Wood Packaging Material compliant with ISPM 15".

The absence of a small stamp on a piece of wood can stop a machine worth a million euros. Don’t risk it; use pallets treated by fumigation/processing.

What the current official guidance means in practice

For operational work, the current procedural rules, declaration fields and relief conditions should be checked directly against the official guidance. For this topic, the core reference points are European Commission, GOV.UK / HMRC.

Official sources

• EU Commission (Customs procedures) — European Commission, 2026-03-04
• UK GOV (Importing into the UK) — GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026-03-04
• GOV.UK: moving goods between Great Britain and the EU — GOV.UK / HMRC, 2026-03-04