In international shipping, almost all solid wood packaging requires fumigation and the affixing of the IPPC mark. This isn’t an extra requirement from freight forwarders, but a globally accepted mandatory quarantine regulation. Many foreign trade shippers suffer huge losses because they neglect fumigation of wooden packaging, resulting in goods being detained, returned, and fined at the port of destination.
Next, Weefreight will provide a detailed explanation, hoping to be helpful to you.
The core purpose of fumigation is to prevent the cross-border spread of harmful organisms. Solid wood materials (such as pine, fir, birch, etc.) easily carry harmful organisms such as insect eggs, termites, nematodes, and fungi. These organisms may not pose a threat in their place of origin, but once they enter other countries, lacking natural predators, they can multiply rapidly, damaging local forest resources, the ecological environment, and agricultural production, causing incalculable ecological disasters. To block this risk, the World Trade Organization and customs authorities of various countries jointly developed the ISPM 15 International Phytosanitary Standard, implementing unified quarantine requirements for cross-border wooden packaging.
Fumigation involves high-temperature heat treatment or chemical treatment to kill all harmful organisms and insect eggs in wood materials, ensuring the safety and harmlessness of the packaging materials. Qualified wood packaging will bear a prominent IPPC (International Packaging and Customs Administration) mark, which includes the country code, company number, and treatment method, and is recognized and accepted by customs worldwide. Solid wood packaging without the IPPC mark is considered non-compliant and faces mandatory fumigation, destruction, or direct return at the port of destination, resulting in high costs and significant delays in delivery.
It is important to note that not all wood packaging requires fumigation. Plywood, MDF (Medium-density Fiberboard), particleboard, and other engineered wood products, produced using high-temperature and high-pressure processes, have already eliminated insect eggs and pathogens and are not subject to quarantine regulations. They can be used directly by sea without fumigation. However, natural wood such as solid wood pallets, boxes, frames, and wedges, regardless of their age or thickness, must be treated according to requirements.
Many shippers mistakenly believe that low-value goods or simple packaging can omit fumigation. In fact, customs inspection focuses on packaging materials, not the value of the goods themselves. If untreated solid wood packaging is discovered, regardless of the value of the goods, it will be handled according to regulations, and the shipper will bear the consequences. Furthermore, fumigation has an expiration date, typically 21 days. After the expiration date, the label becomes invalid, and re-treatment is required.
Besides meeting customs requirements, properly fumigated wooden packaging also improves transportation safety. Treated wood reduces the risk of insect infestation and rot, has a more stable structure, and better protects goods from damage during loading, unloading, and navigation.
(Note: The above information regarding timeliness or costs is for reference only. Please refer to the actual situation at the time of shipment. Thank you!)
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