ISPM 15 Wood Packaging ‘Hyphen’ Enforcement Begins Jan 1

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reminds stakeholders that the temporary suspension of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) hyphen requirement on wood packaging material (WPM) will end on December 31, 2025. The enforcement suspension went into effect in March.

Under current ISPM 15 regulations, WPM must be marked with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo, the two-letter ISO Country Code for the country that treated the WPM, the treatment facility number assigned by the national plant protection organization, and treatment type.  The IPPC requires the ISO code and the treatment facility number to be separated by a hyphen (e.g., XX-000).  

All Wood Packaging Material (WPM) must be in full compliance with regulations to avoid cargo being held at the port of arrival, mandatory re-export, or penalties.

Shipments En Route

For shipments currently en route, but not marked correctly and arriving on January 1, 2026, or later, importers have two options:

1. Divert the shipment to another country where the WPM can be reconditioned to meet compliance standards.
2. Self-report the noncompliance to APHIS and CBP to coordinate corrective actions.

Additional Information

Import ISPM 15-Compliant Wood Packaging Material into the United States | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Export ISPM 15-Compliant Wood Packaging Material From the United States to Another Country | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

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