Expanding Market For ISPM 15 Compliancy

The most significant development in the pallet and packaging industry worldwide recently has been the rapid progressive introduction of the ISPM15 phytosanitary standard for timber products.

ISPM15 is necessary to minimise the risk of the spread of pests – such as the Asian longhorn beetle and pinewood nematode – which are a real danger to forests and can find a pathway through pallets and packaging.

The main measure used internationally to meet ISPM15 is heat treatment of products to a temperature of 56ºC for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Marlaw are fully behind the standard and, having introduced kilns to its Glasgow facility in 2002 with another being installed at Birchmead in the Midlands in 2006, has seen demand rise to such an extent that this service is now being operated 24/7. The U.S. are the latest to fully adopt the standard.