ISPM15 marks: check China shipments before dispatch
Solid wooden pallets, crates and loose dunnage on a China shipment to Great Britain normally need ISPM15 treatment and legible marks. Check the actual packing, including timber added at loading; a treatment certificate cannot replace the mark. Ask for shipment-linked photographs and supporting records through Cambridge China Bridge.
Identify all the wood used to pack the shipment
Ask the factory and packing warehouse to list pallets, crates, timber bases, braces and loose dunnage, meaning wood used to wedge or support cargo. Great Britain's requirement covers solid wood packaging imported to carry goods or supplied to businesses. Our pallets and crates sourcing guide covers buying these items as products.
Processed, non-solid packaging such as plywood is exempt. Do not assume a plywood crate is entirely exempt: ask what its runners, frame and internal supports are made from. Photograph those components before the crate is closed, and identify any solid timber separately.
Read the marks on the actual packaging
The mark must be legible and show the ISO country code, producer identification and treatment information. The wood must be debarked and treated. Ask for a readable close-up of each distinct mark used on the shipment, accompanied by a wider photograph showing the pallet, crate or dunnage carrying it.
Compare the photographed markings with the packing supplier's details and supporting records. Ask for an explanation of inconsistent or unreadable codes. A catalogue photograph or a picture of an empty pallet elsewhere in the warehouse does not connect the marking to your cargo.
Keep records, but do not substitute them for marks
ISPM15-compliant packaging does not require a phytosanitary or treatment certificate: certification is provided by the mark. A certificate cannot replace the mark on imported packaging. If the supplier offers a certificate as the solution to unmarked timber, hold dispatch while the packing is corrected.
As a buyer's verification measure, request treatment records linked to the packing batch, the packing supplier's identity and a packing list identifying the cargo concerned. Agree these deliverables before packing. Keep the wider shipping paperwork consistent using our customs documents guide.
Check dunnage again during loading
Loose timber added to wedge or support cargo also needs the applicable treatment and marking. Ask the loading team to show the actual bearers, blocks and braces before they become hidden. Recheck changed pallets, replacement crate parts and timber added after the factory's packing photographs were taken.
A specific exception exists for associated dunnage banded with qualifying sawn timber of the same type and quality. Do not apply that exception to ordinary machinery or carton shipments. If importing sawn timber, ask the Forestry Commission to confirm the route before relying on it.
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Make packing evidence part of dispatch approval
Agree a release checklist covering packing materials, readable marks, supporting records, visible condition and unresolved exceptions. Record packing references against the order and capture the final cargo, container and seal identifiers through the container loading check. Ask the checker to state which wood was visible and which components could not be examined.
Non-compliant packaging may be rejected or destroyed, requiring alternative transport arrangements. Resolve missing marks or unexplained substitutions before dispatch and obtain fresh evidence after correction. Cambridge China Bridge's own staff in China can coordinate the packing evidence and loading checks agreed for your order.
Frequently asked questions
Do plywood crates need ISPM15 marks?
Processed plywood packaging is exempt, but check the whole crate. Solid timber runners, frames or supports cannot be treated as exempt simply because the panels are plywood.
Can a treatment certificate replace an ISPM15 mark?
No. Imported wood packaging needs the applicable mark; certification cannot replace it. Supporting treatment records are useful for checking the supplier's account.
Does loose timber inside the container need checking?
Yes. Check wooden blocks, bearers and braces added during loading as well as pallets and crates. Ordinary solid wood dunnage is covered by the treatment requirement.
What packing photos should I ask for before shipment?
Request readable mark close-ups, wider views identifying the marked packing, internal supports before closure and final loading photographs linked to your order and container.