ISPM - International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures

"International standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPM) is an International Phytosanitary Measure developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s global programme of policy and technical assistance in plant quarantine. This programme makes available to FAO Members and other interested parties these standards, guidelines and recommendations to achieve international harmonization of phytosanitary measures, with the aim to facilitate trade and avoid the use of unjustifiable measures as barriers to trade."

Cargo shipment using wooden packing have to use ISPM No.15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) that directly addresses the need to treat wood materials of a thickness greater than 6mm, used to ship products between countries. ISPM 15 main purpose is to prevent the international transport and spread of disease and insects that could negatively affect plants or ecosystems. ISPM affects all wood packaging material (pallets, crates, dunnages, etc.) requiring that they be debarked and then heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide and stamped or branded, with a mark of compliance. This mark of compliance is colloquially known as the "wheat stamp". Products exempt from the ISPM 15 are made from alternative material, like paper, plastic or wood panel products (i.e. hardboard, plywood and Oriented strand board).

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES ( ISPMs)

ISPM No. 1 ( 1993)
Principles of plant quarantine as related to international trade

ISPM No. 2 ( 1995)
Guidelines for pest risk analysis

ISPM No. 3 (2005)
Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents
and other beneficial organisms

ISPM No. 4 (1995)
Requirements for the establishment of pest free areas

ISPM No. 5 (2005)
Glossary of phytosanitary terms

ISPM No. 6 (1997)
Guidelines for surveillance

ISPM No. 7 (1997)
Export certification system

ISPM No. 8 (1998)
Determination of pest status in an area

ISPM No. 9 (1998)
Guidelines for pest eradication programmes

ISPM No. 10 (1999)
Requirements for the establishment of pest free places of production and pest free production sites

ISPM No. 11 (2004)
Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests, including analysis of environmental risks and living modified organisms

ISPM No. 12 (2001)
Guidelines for phytosanitary certificates

ISPM No. 13 (2001)
Guidelines for the notification of non-compliance and emergency action

ISPM No. 14 (2002)
The use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest risk management

ISPM No. 15 (2002)
Guidelines for regulating wood packaging material in international trade

ISPM No. 16 (2002)
Regulated non-quarantine pests: concept and application

ISPM No. 17 (2002)
Pest reporting

ISPM No. 18 (2003)
Guidelines for the use of irradiation as a phytosanitary measure

ISPM No. 19 (2003)
Guidelines on lists of regulated pests

ISPM No. 20 (2004)
Guidelines for a phytosanitary import regulatory system

ISPM No. 21 (2004)
Pest risk analysis for regulated non-quarantine pests

ISPM No. 22 (2005)
Requirements for the establishment of areas of low pest prevalence

ISPM No. 23 (2005)
Guidelines for inspection

ISPM No. 24 (2005)
Guidelines for the determination and recognition of equivalence of phytosanitary measures

Part I (519 KB)
Part II (638 KB)
Download full PDF version 1131 kb

For check the latest position of all the ISPMs on the IPPC web site: https://www.ippc.int