How to Read the IPPC Stamp on Wooden Pallets

Cập nhật: 12/06/2026
  • IPPC stamp - the mark printed on ISPM 15-compliant wooden pallets - has 4 required components: the wheat symbol, country code, facility code, and treatment method code.
  • HT (heat treatment) is accepted by all major markets including the EU, USA, Australia, and Japan. MB (methyl bromide) is banned in the EU and Japan.
  • The mark must appear on at least 2 opposite sides of the pallet, applied by branding iron or permanent stencil - never handwritten.
  • Missing or incorrect IPPC marks can lead to shipment detention, forced fumigation at the importer's cost, or full destruction of the cargo.
  • ICD Vietnam supplies ISPM 15-certified HT pallets to exporters across Vietnam. Contact: +84 983 797 186 / sales@icdvietnam.com.vn

How to Read the IPPC Stamp on Wooden Pallets - A Complete Guide for Exporters

The IPPC stamp - the official mark confirming a wooden pallet complies with ISPM 15 phytosanitary standards - is one of the most scrutinized marks in international logistics. Every field in the stamp has a defined meaning, and a single error can cause customs authorities to detain or destroy an entire shipment. This guide explains each component of the IPPC mark, how to verify compliance before loading, and which treatment codes are accepted or rejected by major importing countries.

ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is the global standard issued by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) that governs wooden packaging materials used in international trade. It was created to prevent the spread of invasive insects and plant diseases across national borders via wooden pallets, crates, and dunnage. As of 2026, more than 180 countries have adopted ISPM 15, making the IPPC stamp effectively mandatory for any wooden pallet entering international commerce.

At ICD Vietnam, we produce and supply ISPM 15-certified wooden pallets for export. One of the most common questions we receive from purchasing teams and logistics coordinators is: "What do all these codes on the pallet stamp actually mean?" The breakdown below answers that question clearly, with a practical focus on avoiding costly compliance errors.

The 4 Required Components of Every IPPC Stamp

Every legitimate IPPC mark on a wooden pallet contains exactly four pieces of information, arranged inside a bordered frame with the wheat symbol on the left side and the identifying codes on the right. All four components are mandatory - a mark missing any one of them does not meet ISPM 15 requirements.

Component Position in stamp What it means Example
IPPC wheat symbol Left side, inside frame Certifies compliance with ISPM 15 international standard [Wheat/ear symbol]
ISO country code Top right, first field Two-letter code for the country where treatment was performed VN (Vietnam), CN (China), US (USA)
Treatment facility code Right side, after country code Unique number issued by the national plant protection authority to the certified facility VN-123 (Vietnam facility #123)
Treatment method code Bottom right, final field Method used to eliminate pests from the wood HT, MB, DH, DB

Reading the full stamp "VN-456 HT" means: pallet treated in Vietnam by certified facility number 456 using heat treatment. This four-field format is standardized globally - a Vietnamese pallet, a German pallet, and a Chinese pallet all use the same layout, making verification fast for any customs inspector worldwide.

Treatment Method Codes: HT, MB, DH, and DB

The treatment code is the most commercially important field in the IPPC stamp. Choosing the wrong treatment method - or sourcing pallets with an incompatible code for your destination market - is one of the leading causes of cargo detention at customs. Here is a complete breakdown of all active treatment codes.

Code Full name Technical requirement Accepted by
HT Heat treatment Core wood temperature of 56°C held for at least 30 minutes All markets globally - EU, USA, Australia, Japan, Canada, and all others
MB Methyl bromide fumigation Chemical fumigation with methyl bromide at prescribed concentrations USA, Canada, many Asia-Pacific markets. Banned in EU, Japan, and several others
DH Dielectric heating Electromagnetic heating that achieves 60°C core for 1 minute All markets; less common due to equipment cost
DB Debarking Complete removal of bark from all wood surfaces Must be combined with HT or MB - not valid as a standalone treatment code

HT is the default choice for virtually all Vietnamese exporters. Heat treatment carries no chemical residues, involves no environmental restrictions, and is accepted without exception by every major importing country. MB pallets are legal for shipments to the USA and some Southeast Asian markets, but the risk of routing errors - sending MB-stamped pallets to EU-bound containers by mistake - makes HT the practical standard for any exporter shipping to multiple destinations.

For export managers: How the treatment code affects your shipping compliance

Export managers sourcing pallets for multi-market shipments need to know: all EU member states enforce ISPM 15 under Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, which explicitly bans MB-treated wood packaging. A single MB-stamped pallet discovered in a container bound for Germany, France, or Poland can trigger inspection of the entire shipment. The standard operating procedure is to specify HT-only in supplier contracts, then verify the stamp before container loading. ICD Vietnam supplies HT-certified pallets with full treatment documentation upon request - contact +84 983 797 186 to request a certificate sample.

Mark Placement and Application Requirements

The physical placement and application method of the IPPC stamp are as strictly regulated as the content. Customs inspectors are trained to check not just what the mark says, but how and where it appears on the pallet. Non-compliant placement - even when the treatment itself was legitimate - can result in the pallet being rejected.

One additional rule that catches many importers off guard: if a pallet is repaired and more than 33% of its structural components are replaced, the entire pallet must be re-treated and re-marked by a certified facility. A repaired pallet carrying the original stamp is not compliant if the repair threshold has been crossed.

For Purchasing Teams: How to Verify a Valid IPPC Stamp

Purchasing teams and QC inspectors receiving pallets at the warehouse have a practical 4-point checklist to confirm ISPM 15 compliance before the pallets enter the supply chain. Catching a non-compliant pallet at goods receipt is far less costly than catching it at customs.

Purchasing teams working with ICD Vietnam can also request a phytosanitary treatment certificate with each order. This document, issued by the certified treatment facility, provides a paper trail that complements the physical stamp and is increasingly required by freight forwarders and customs brokers in high-scrutiny markets.

6 Common Reasons Wooden Pallets Fail Customs Inspection

Based on field experience supplying pallets to exporters in Vietnam, these are the six errors that most frequently cause customs authorities to flag or reject wooden pallet shipments. All six are preventable with proper supplier selection and pre-shipment verification.

IPPC Stamp Requirements by Major Market

While ISPM 15 is a single international standard, individual importing countries apply it with some variation - particularly regarding which treatment methods they accept and what additional documentation they require. The table below covers the most common destination markets for Vietnamese exporters.

Destination market HT accepted MB accepted Additional notes
European Union (all 27 member states) Yes No - banned Enforced under EU Regulation 2016/2031. Applies to all points of entry.
United States Yes Yes Both accepted. USDA APHIS enforces ISPM 15 compliance at all ports.
Australia Yes Yes (with certificate) Australia (DAFF) often requires a fumigation certificate in addition to the stamp.
Japan Yes No - banned Japan Plant Protection Law follows EU practice; MB pallets will be refused or re-treated.
Canada Yes Yes CFIA enforces ISPM 15. Both treatment codes accepted.
South Korea Yes Yes ISPM 15 enforced. HT is the prevalent choice among Vietnamese exporters to Korea.

If your shipment travels to multiple countries or involves transshipment, use HT pallets exclusively. The HT mark is the only treatment code with zero destination restrictions as of 2026. For exporters shipping to the EU - Vietnam's largest trading partner for manufactured goods - HT is not a recommendation but a requirement. See our guide to pallet standards by export market for a country-by-country compliance breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IPPC stamp on a wooden pallet?

The IPPC stamp is the official certification mark showing that a wooden pallet has been treated to meet ISPM 15 international phytosanitary standards. It is required on all wooden pallets used in international trade and contains four elements: the IPPC wheat symbol, a two-letter ISO country code, the treatment facility's registered code, and the treatment method code (typically HT or MB). Without this mark, wooden pallets are not permitted entry into any of the 180+ countries that have adopted ISPM 15.

What does HT mean on a pallet stamp?

HT stands for heat treatment. Under ISPM 15, heat treatment requires that the core temperature of the wood reach 56°C and be held at that temperature for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes. This process kills insects, larvae, and pathogens present in the wood without using chemicals. HT is the universally accepted treatment method - it is the only code accepted by all 180+ ISPM 15 signatory countries, including the EU, USA, Japan, and Australia.

Can I use MB pallets to ship goods to Europe?

No. MB (methyl bromide) treatment is banned for wood packaging entering the European Union under EU Regulation 2016/2031. Any wooden pallet or crate bearing an MB stamp will be refused entry at EU ports of entry. The same restriction applies to Japan. If you are shipping to Europe or Japan, you must use pallets stamped HT only. Using MB pallets for EU shipments is the most common - and most expensive - ISPM 15 compliance error.

How many sides of the pallet must carry the IPPC mark?

ISPM 15 requires the mark to appear on a minimum of 2 opposite sides of the pallet - typically the left and right stringers (the outer boards running the full length of the pallet). Best practice, and the standard applied by certified suppliers including ICD Vietnam, is to stamp all 4 sides. A stamp on only 1 side is technically non-compliant and may be flagged during customs inspection, even if the treatment itself was fully valid.

How do I verify that a Vietnamese supplier's IPPC facility code is valid?

Treatment facility codes for Vietnamese pallet suppliers are registered with and maintained by the Department of Plant Protection (Cuc Bao ve thuc vat), which operates under Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. You can request the facility's registration certificate directly from your supplier - any certified facility should be able to provide this documentation within 24 hours. For ICD Vietnam, treatment certificates are available upon request. Contact our export team at sales@icdvietnam.com.vn or +84 983 797 186 (WhatsApp available).

Source ISPM 15-Certified HT Pallets from ICD Vietnam

ICD Vietnam has manufactured and supplied certified wooden pallets for export since 2011, with over 10 years of documented compliance with ISPM 15 heat treatment standards. Every pallet leaves our facility bearing a valid IPPC stamp on all 4 sides - VN country code, registered facility code, and HT treatment method - backed by treatment certificates your logistics team can present at any port of entry worldwide.

If you are sourcing pallets for export to the EU, USA, Japan, Australia, or any other ISPM 15 market, contact our export sales team for a quotation and compliance documentation package. We supply standard sizes (1200x1000 mm, 1200x800 mm) and custom dimensions. Minimum order quantities and lead times available on request.

For further reading on related compliance topics, see our guides on ISPM 15 heat-treated pallets, the difference between HT and MB treatment, and the export documentation process for wooden pallets.

ICD Vietnam - Certified Wooden Pallet Manufacturer, Hanoi, Vietnam. ISPM 15 / IPPC certified since 2011.

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