Plastic or ISPM15 Heat treated Wooden Pallets?

With recent concern over the contamination of conifer wood products from Portugal, which have affected export to and from the EU, some plastic pallet manufacturers have noted an increase in their plastic pallet sales.

The Pine Wood Nematode, which has been found in various timber packaging products, has pushed Timcon (the Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation) to recommend all EU members to heat treat their wood packaging material for both import & export to Portugal. Timcon have updated their Global ISMP15 regulations to advise that Portuguese importers will most likely request that products are delivered on ISPM15 compliant pallets to alleviate the spread of the contaminated pallets.

Implications for Wooden Pallets

These changes to the regulations have meant that a number of businesses have started to use more plastic pallets as an alternative to heat treated pallets for storage and transport.  Already thought of as a more hygienic method of transporting goods, plastic pallets are becoming increasingly popular for export. Exporting goods on plastic pallets eliminates the need for a paper trail. Although the IPPC logo & Heat Treated stamp should be sufficient to export goods all over the world, many countries still ask for the relevant phytosanitary certificate as proof that the pallets have been treated. Plastic pallets do not require any back-up paperwork so can often be a “simpler” way of exporting.

The problems of the contamination have outlined the need for UK timber packaging suppliers to be careful when selecting and outsourcing goods for Heat Treatment.

Whirlowdale Trading Company have close relationships with a number of reputable local heat treatment plants. Whirlowdale receive all supporting documentation which proves the pallets have been treated as they should be – to a temperature of 56°C for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Whirlowdale Trading stock a variety of ISPM15 wooden pallets, both new and used, as well as large stocks of plastic pallets. For more information, please call the sales team on 01709 829061, our website contains further advice on ISPM15 pallets from Timcon regarding exporting timber packaging materials.

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