Export Shipping Compliance for Corrugated: ISPM 15, Marking, and Documentation

Corrugated board itself is not regulated wood packaging, but pallets and crates are — and ISPM 15 heat-treatment marks are the most common customs hold-up. Marking and packing-list accuracy run a close second.

The Scenario: A shipment that sat at customs for nine days

An exporter's container was held at the destination port because the pallets carried no ISPM 15 marks and the packing list omitted the carton count. Demurrage costs mounted daily.

Pain Points

• Pallets lacked the required ISPM 15 heat-treatment stamp;
• The packing list did not match the actual carton count;
• No compliance checklist existed for the shipping team.

The Solution: The three-part export checklist

The exporter built a pre-shipment compliance checklist:

1. Wood packaging rule All pallets and crates carry ISPM 15 marks or use corrugated-only loads to skip the rule entirely.

2. Marking accuracy Carton marks, handling icons, and destination labels match the packing list exactly.

3. Documentation match Packing list, invoice, and carton counts reconcile before the container seals.

The Result: Cleared in two days

The next shipment cleared in two days with no holds. The checklist now runs as a mandatory sign-off before every export booking.