Here’s an overview of Acacio Fumigation Services Pvt. Ltd.’s ISPM-15 Standard Fumigation offering!

ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is the global benchmark for preventing the spread of wood-borne pests via international trade. It applies to all solid wood packaging materials (pallets, crates, dunnage, etc.) thicker than 6 mm, mandating that they be debarked and then subjected to an approved phytosanitary treatment—either heat or fumigation—before being stamped with the IPPC mark of compliance

Approved treatments

There are three internationally recognized treatments in Annex 1 of ISPM 15:

1. Heat Treatment (HT): Wood must reach a core temperature of at least 56 °C for a minimum of 30 minutes.
2. Alternative Heat Methods: Includes kiln drying (KD), mobile or portable chambers (PCP), and fast container connectors (FCC)—all meeting the same core-temperature/time requirement.
3. Methyl Bromide Fumigation (MB): Wood is exposed to methyl bromide gas under controlled conditions.

Scope of ISPM-15 Services

• Wood Packaging Materials Covered: Pallets, crates, dunnage, skids, boxes and other solid wood components ≥ 6 mm thick.
• Exemptions: Thin wood (< 6 mm), plywood/OSB/particle board, barrel staves, and fully processed wood packaging need no treatment.

Scope & Applicability

• What’s Covered: All solid wood packaging (pallets, crates, dunnage, skids) ≥ 6 mm thick used in international trade.
• What’s Exempt:
• Wood thinner than 6 mm
• Processed/composite wood (plywood, OSB, particleboard)
• Wood packaging made entirely of non-wood materials (plastic, metal)



1. Preparation of Wood Debarking: Remove loose bark to minimize pest harborage. Cleaning: Brush or blow off sawdust, soil, and other debris. Stacking: Arrange pieces so fumigant gas can circulate evenly—avoid tight bundling or plastic wrapping.
2. Choice of Treatment Under ISPM 15, you may use either: Heat Treatment (HT): Wood core ≥ 56 °C for ≥ 30 minutes Methyl Bromide Fumigation (MB): Gas fumigation under specified dose/time regimes




3. Methyl Bromide Fumigation Protocol | Methyl Bromide Schedule

   The minimum fumigation parameters are as follows

   |Ambient Temperature|	|Initial Dose(g CH₃Br/m³)|	|Minimum Gas Concentrations(g/m³ at 2 h / 4 h / 12 h / 24 h)|
   21 °C	48	36 / 31 / 28 / 24
   16 °C	56	42 / 36 / 32 / 28
   10 °C	64	48 / 42 / 36 / 32

   Enclosure: Use gas-tight tarpaulins or chambers; seal edges with sand-snakes or tape. Exposure Time: Minimum 24 hours. Monitoring: Withdraw gas samples at 2, 4, and 24 hours to confirm concentrations. Aeration: After 24 h, ventilate until CH₃Br levels fall below safety thresholds (typically < 5 ppm).

4. Post-Treatment Marking & Documentation IPPC Mark (“Wheat Stamp”):
   

   IN-

   CHE0000-

   MB
   
   PP: Country code (ISO 2-letter) 0000: Unique treatment facility code MB: Indicates methyl bromide (use “HT” for heat treatment) Certificate of Treatment: Should state: Treatment type (MB or HT) Date and duration Dosage and temperature/log profile Facility name and accreditation number
   
   
5. Record-Keeping & Compliance Maintain Logs: Gas dosages, monitoring readings, aeration times, and staff signatures. Audit & Traceability: Archive treatment certificates for at least 2 years. Inspections: Be prepared for spot checks by NPPO (National Plant Protection Organization) at origin or destination.



6. Environmental & Safety Considerations Worker Safety: Use personal gas monitors, full-face respirators with acid-gas cartridges. Ensure adequate aeration before handling. Ozone Impact: Methyl bromide is ozone-depleting. Many exporters are transitioning to heat treatment or alternative fumigants (e.g., sulfuryl fluoride, phosphine) where accepted. Adhering closely to these procedures ensures that your wood packaging meets international phytosanitary standards—minimizing quarantine delays, shipment refusals, or re-fumigation at destination ports.






Methyl Bromide Fumigation Protocol | Methyl Bromide Schedule

The minimum fumigation parameters are as follows

|Ambient Temperature|	|Initial Dose(g CH₃Br/m³)|	|Minimum Gas Concentrations(g/m³ at 2 h / 4 h / 12 h / 24 h)|
21 °C	48	36 / 31 / 28 / 24
16 °C	56	42 / 36 / 32 / 28
10 °C	64	48 / 42 / 36 / 32

Enclosure: Use gas-tight tarpaulins or chambers; seal edges with sand-snakes or tape. Exposure Time: Minimum 24 hours. Monitoring: Withdraw gas samples at 2, 4, and 24 hours to confirm concentrations. Aeration: After 24 h, ventilate until CH₃Br levels fall below safety thresholds (typically < 5 ppm).







Stamping & Documentation

Upon successful treatment, each unit receives the standard “wheat‐stamp” IPPC mark, which includes: IPPC logo Country code (IN) Unique facility code Treatment code (“MB” or “HT”) Digital and hard-copy certificates are issued via Acacio’s online platform within 24 hours of service completion







Project Management

Upon successful treatment, each unit receives the standard “wheat‐stamp” IPPC mark, which includes: IPPC logo Country code (IN) Unique facility code Treatment code (“MB” or “HT”) Digital and hard-copy certificates are issued via Acacio’s online platform within 24 hours of service completion