Compliance
Information Hub
A working reference for the regulatory requirements that most often hold up a shipment — wood packaging treatment, hazmat certification, food-contact rules, and sustainability labeling.
Wood packaging & ISPM-15
ISPM-15 is the international standard governing wood packaging material (WPM) — pallets, crates, skids, reels, and dunnage — used in cross-border shipping. It exists to stop wood-boring pests from moving between ecosystems, and it's the single most common reason a shipment gets held at a port of entry.
Any solid wood packaging thicker than 6mm used in international shipping — pallets, crates, skids, reels, and loose dunnage. It does not apply to manufactured wood products like plywood, OSB, or particleboard, since the heat and pressure used to make them already eliminates pests, or to wood 6mm or thinner.
HT — the industry standard
Wood core heated to 56°C for a minimum of 30 minutes, verified by temperature probes. Leaves no chemical residue and is accepted virtually everywhere.
MB — fumigation
A chemical fumigation alternative to heat treatment. Less commonly used today and restricted or banned in some jurisdictions due to environmental concerns.
IPPC stamp, not a sticker
Must include the IPPC logo, two-letter country code, a unique facility certification number, and the treatment code (HT or MB). Cannot be red or orange — those colors are reserved for hazard labeling.
Two opposite sides, permanent
The mark must be legible, permanent, and applied so it can't be removed without damaging the wood — branded, stamped, or stenciled, never a detachable tag or sticker.
ISPM-15 marking is not required for wood packaging moving strictly within the continental United States. It is required for shipments to Hawaii or Puerto Rico, and for anything crossing the Canadian or Mexican border, since those are treated as international movements for phytosanitary purposes.
Hazmat & dangerous goods packaging
Packaging for regulated hazardous materials — under DOT rules domestically, IMDG for ocean freight, or ADR for European road transport — must carry a UN certification code showing it was tested and rated for the specific hazard class and packing group being shipped.
Packing Group I — highest danger, most stringent packaging requirements.
Packing Group II — medium danger.
Packing Group III — lowest danger, least stringent requirements.
Wood dunnage inside a hazmat shipment still needs its own separate ISPM-15 mark if crossing a border.
A Safety Data Sheet should travel with any regulated shipment, independent of the packaging certification itself.
For a full breakdown of how to read an FIBC's UN certification code, see the FIBC Bulk Bag Guide.
Food-contact packaging basics
Packaging that directly touches food — not just an outer shipping carton around a sealed bag — falls under FDA rules for indirect food additives (21 CFR Parts 170–189). Materials, inks, and adhesives used in direct food contact need to be cleared as safe for that use, not just generally food-industry-adjacent.
A standard corrugated shipping case around a sealed retail package is generally fine without special food-grade certification. Packaging in direct contact with unwrapped or bulk food — liners, direct-contact cartons, or containers — is where food-grade material specification actually matters.
Recycling & sustainability certifications
Forest sourcing certification
Certifies that lumber or paper-based packaging came from responsibly managed forests. Increasingly requested by large retail and export customers.
Consumer-facing recyclability label
A standardized label communicating how to recycle a specific package to the end consumer — common on retail-facing corrugated and film packaging.
The standard "chasing arrows" mark
Indicates the box is made from recyclable corrugated material — widely recognized and low-effort to include on most standard boxes.
Extended Producer Responsibility
A growing set of state and international rules making producers financially responsible for packaging waste — varies significantly by state and destination market.
Shipping documentation basics
| Document | Purpose | Required For |
|---|---|---|
| Bill of Lading (BOL) | Legal contract of carriage between shipper and carrier | Every LTL or FTL freight shipment |
| Commercial Invoice | Declares value and details of goods for customs | International/export shipments |
| Certificate of Origin | Certifies the country where goods were manufactured | Many international shipments, trade agreements |
| Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | Documents hazards and handling for regulated materials | Hazmat / dangerous goods shipments |
| Packing List | Itemized contents of a shipment | Most commercial shipments, especially export |
Common questions
Does a domestic shipment ever need ISPM-15?
Almost never within the continental US — but shipments to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or across the Canadian or Mexican border do need full ISPM-15 compliance, since those count as international movements.
Can a repaired pallet keep its original ISPM-15 stamp?
No. If a pallet is repaired or remanufactured, it needs to be re-treated and re-stamped by the facility that performed the repair — the original mark no longer applies.
What happens if wood packaging arrives unmarked?
Enforcement varies by country — some will fumigate the shipment and charge a premium, others deny entry outright, and in some cases non-compliant material is incinerated or destroyed at the importer's expense.
Is plywood or OSB dunnage exempt from ISPM-15?
Yes. Manufactured wood products like plywood, OSB, and particleboard are exempt, since the heat and pressure used to manufacture them already eliminates pests.
Not sure what your shipment needs?
Tell us your destination and product, and we'll flag what compliance requirements actually apply before you ship.