Every wooden pallet crossing an international border must be heat treated and stamped to ISPM-15 standards. Florida Pallet Supply stocks ISPM-15 compliant heat-treated pallets in all major sizes for export customers across FL, GA, NJ, MD, and DE.
ISPM-15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is the global standard that governs the treatment of wood packaging material used in international trade. Compliance is mandatory - non-compliant pallets are rejected or destroyed at international borders.
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Treatment Method | Heat Treatment (HT) - most common method |
| Core Temperature | 56 degrees C (132.8 degrees F) minimum |
| Treatment Duration | 30 minutes continuous at core temperature |
| Required Marking | HT stamp + IPPC logo + country code (US) + producer code |
| Certification Body | IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention) |
| Available Sizes | 48x40, 42x42, 48x48, Euro (1200x800mm), custom sizes |
| Construction Types | Stringer, Block, custom |
| Applies To | All wooden pallets in international trade |
Florida Pallet Supply stocks ISPM-15 compliant heat-treated pallets in multiple sizes for immediate export. Serving FL, GA, NJ, MD, and DE.
Get Export PalletsThe ISPM-15 standard was developed by the International Plant Protection Convention to prevent the spread of invasive wood-boring insects - like the Asian longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer - that can travel inside wooden packaging material. By requiring heat treatment to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for 30 continuous minutes, the standard kills any insects or larvae that may be living inside the wood, regardless of the species, pallet size, or country of origin.
Florida is uniquely positioned as a major export hub, with Port Miami, Port Everglades, and Port Tampa Bay handling billions of dollars in agricultural, industrial, and consumer goods exports each year. Every wooden pallet leaving through these ports - or any US export gateway - must carry the required ISPM-15 marking. The IPPC ISPM-15 standard document details all requirements. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces compliance for US exporters. Florida Pallet Supply maintains heat-treated inventory and can produce heat-treated custom sizes on request. See our detailed ISPM-15 heat treatment guide for full compliance information.
Every ISPM-15 compliant heat-treated pallet carries a standardized mark that must appear on at least two opposite sides of the pallet. Here is what each element of the mark means.
IPPC Wheat Symbol: The official logo of the International Plant Protection Convention - a stylized wheat sheaf. This symbol confirms the pallet has been treated under an approved national program.
Country Code: The two-letter ISO country code indicating where the pallet was treated. US-origin pallets carry "US." Pallets produced and treated in other countries carry their respective codes (DE, CN, MX, etc.).
Producer/Treatment Provider Code: A numeric code identifying the specific producer or treatment facility registered with the national plant protection organization (NPPO). In the US, APHIS maintains the registry of approved treatment providers.
Treatment Code: HT indicates heat treatment. MB (methyl bromide) is an alternative treatment but is being phased out globally due to environmental concerns. Dielectric Heating (DH) is also accepted. Florida Pallet Supply produces HT-stamped pallets exclusively.
A properly marked heat-treated pallet shows all four elements in a consistent format. Missing or illegible marking is grounds for rejection at international customs. Florida Pallet Supply ensures all heat-treated pallets carry complete, legible ISPM-15 marking before delivery.
Any company shipping goods internationally on wooden pallets must use ISPM-15 compliant heat-treated pallets. This applies to exporters at every Florida port - Port Miami, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay, JAXPORT - and to importers receiving goods on wood packaging from other countries. Florida Pallet Supply stocks heat-treated pallets ready for immediate use by export customers across FL, GA, NJ, MD, and DE.
Get Export Pallets →Florida's agricultural export sector - citrus, tomatoes, strawberries, nursery stock, and other products - ships significant volumes through international channels that require ISPM-15 compliant pallets. Agricultural exporters also face domestic regulations in some states that require heat-treated pallets to prevent invasive species movement. Florida Pallet Supply understands agricultural pallet needs and maintains heat-treated inventory for Florida growers and packers.
View Options →Food and beverage exporters - from Florida orange juice producers to specialty food manufacturers in NJ, MD, and DE - ship globally on pallets that must meet ISPM-15 standards. Florida Pallet Supply provides food-safe, heat-treated pallets with documentation confirming treatment compliance. Our heat-treated pallet inventory is sourced from registered US treatment facilities with full traceability.
Request Quote →ISPM-15 is the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 - a global treaty standard administered by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that requires all wooden packaging material used in international trade to be treated against wood-boring insects and plant pathogens. It exists to prevent the international spread of invasive species that can devastate forests and agricultural systems. Over 180 countries enforce ISPM-15, making it effectively mandatory for any international wood packaging movement.
Heat treatment at ISPM-15 temperatures (56 degrees C core for 30 minutes) does not significantly reduce the structural properties of properly kiln-dried lumber. The treatment temperature is well below the point at which wood would experience structural degradation. However, improperly dried green lumber subjected to heat treatment may check or crack as moisture is rapidly driven out. Florida Pallet Supply uses properly dried lumber in all heat-treated pallet production to ensure structural integrity is maintained after treatment.
Yes, recycled pallets can be heat treated to ISPM-15 standards. However, the pallet must be treated as a complete unit, not just the new boards used in repairs. Re-treatment is required if a heat-treated pallet is repaired with non-treated boards. For most export applications, new heat-treated pallets provide the best combination of compliance assurance and structural consistency. Contact Florida Pallet Supply to discuss whether new or recycled heat-treated pallets are appropriate for your export shipments.
Non-compliant pallets are subject to immediate quarantine, rejection, or destruction at the destination port. The cost of non-compliance includes container detention charges, re-palletization costs, potential product damage during border hold, and possible fines. In the worst case, perishable goods can be lost entirely if held at the border while the pallet issue is resolved. The cost of using compliant heat-treated pallets from Florida Pallet Supply is always far less than the cost of a compliance failure.
Yes. Florida Pallet Supply maintains standing inventory of heat-treated 48x40 GMA pallets and other common sizes ready for immediate delivery to customers in FL, GA, NJ, MD, and DE. For less common sizes or very large volumes, lead times may apply. Contact our team with your required size, quantity, and ship date to confirm availability for your export timeline.
Fast delivery across Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. New, recycled, and custom options available.
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