Export Pallet Biosecurity Checks Before Strapping a Consignment

When an export consignment is ready for dispatch, attention often turns to the final strapping, wrapping and documentation.

Before those steps begin, exporters should check the pallet and any other timber packaging used to support the load.

A well-strapped consignment can still encounter delays if the timber underneath it does not satisfy the destination country’s biosecurity requirements. Packaging equipment and consumables can stabilise the products, but they cannot make non-compliant wood packaging compliant.

Understand when ISPM 15 applies

ISPM 15 is the international standard governing solid wood packaging material used in international trade. Its purpose is to reduce the risk of timber pests being spread between countries through packaging and dunnage.

According to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the standard applies to raw hardwood and softwood packaging such as:

• Pallets
• Crates and cases
• Dunnage
• Packing blocks
• Drums
• Spools and reels
• Pallet collars
• Load boards
• Skids

Some lower-risk materials are exempt. These include packaging made entirely from wood no more than 6 mm thick and processed products such as plywood, particleboard, oriented strand board and veneer manufactured using glue, heat or pressure.

Exporters should not assume an exemption based only on how a pallet looks. They need to know what material has been used.

Confirm the importing country’s requirements

Many countries have implemented ISPM 15, but requirements can vary.

The department advises exporters to confirm the importing country’s current rules before dispatch. Its published implementation list is provided as a guide rather than a substitute for checking the destination requirements.

The check should occur early enough to replace or correct unsuitable packaging without delaying the shipment. Discovering a pallet issue after products have been carefully stacked, strapped and wrapped can create substantial rework.

The customer, freight forwarder, customs broker or relevant government information service may assist with confirming the documentation and packaging requirements for the destination.

Locate and inspect the certification mark

Compliant solid wood packaging should bear the internationally recognised ISPM 15 mark applied by an authorised provider or manufacturer.

The mark includes:

• The IPPC certification symbol
• A two-letter country code
• A unique certification number
• A treatment abbreviation

Treatment abbreviations can include HT for heat treatment, MB for methyl bromide fumigation and DH for dielectric heat treatment. The unique number allows the packaging to be traced to the treatment provider or manufacturer.

In Australia, the certification mark can only be applied by treatment providers and wood packaging manufacturers recognised through the Australian Wood Packaging Certification Scheme. The Department of Agriculture maintains an AWPCS register for certified providers.

Before loading the pallet, make sure the mark can be found and recorded. A mark that is damaged, covered or impossible to verify may create avoidable questions later.

Check for alterations and repairs

An ISPM 15 mark should not be treated as permanent approval for any future version of the pallet.

The department states that repaired, altered, remanufactured or recycled wood packaging material must be treated by a certified provider and constructed by a certified wood packaging manufacturer under the Australian scheme. Marked pallets may be re-exported, provided no alterations have been made.

Adding untreated timber, replacing a broken board or modifying a crate may therefore affect its status.

Warehouse teams should have a process for separating damaged export pallets from serviceable ones. A quick repair with whatever timber is available may create a larger problem when the consignment reaches the border.

Inspect for bark and signs of pests

ISPM 15 packaging must meet bark-tolerance requirements. The Australian export guidance states that wood packaging must be made from debarked wood, although limited small pieces may remain within defined tolerances.

Workers should also look for signs such as insects, fresh holes, frass, unusual sawdust or other evidence that the timber may have been infested after treatment.

Treatment controls pests present at the time, but it does not provide permanent protection against reinfestation. Even correctly marked packaging can be directed for treatment or disposal if signs of infestation are detected.

A questionable pallet should be quarantined and assessed rather than covered with stretch film or loaded into a container.

Keep the relevant records

The certification mark generally verifies that the wood packaging has been treated to the standard. However, some countries may also require supporting information in packing declarations, invoices or packing lists. Exporters are responsible for confirming and supplying the documentation required by the destination.

A simple internal record could include:

• Supplier of the pallet or timber packaging
• Photograph of the certification mark
• Country and treatment codes
• Date of inspection
• Destination country
• Name of the person completing the check
• Any visible damage or repairs
• Confirmation that no infestation was observed

Photographing the pallet before the products cover the mark can make later verification easier.

Complete the check before strapping

Once the pallet and documentation have been checked, the load can be unitised using the strapping, wrapping and protection appropriate to the products and transport task.

The strap should suit the package weight, edges and handling conditions. It should not be positioned over the ISPM 15 mark where this can reasonably be avoided, particularly if doing so would make the mark difficult to inspect.

Cyklop Australia supplies strapping consumables, tools and equipment for different load types. These products form an important part of preparing a secure export load, but they should follow rather than replace the initial biosecurity check.

A brief pallet inspection before packing can prevent considerably more work once the consignment has been completed or shipped.