Import rules · Middle East & North Africa

Wood packaging import rules: Bahrain

Bahrain: ISPM 15 status for pallets and crates, approved treatments, the plant protection authority, common pallet sizes and main ports.

Last checked: 2026-10
ISPM 15 on imports
Not confirmed
Enforced since
—
Treatments
Not confirmed; ISPM 15 methods (HT, MB, DH, SF) are the safe choice
Plant protection authority
Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture (plant wealth directorate)
Common pallet sizes
1200 × 1000 mm
1200 × 800 mm (EUR)
Main ports
Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Mina Salman

Overview

I could not confirm a published Bahraini rule or start date for ISPM 15 on imported wood packaging, and the country does not appear in the Australian implementation list I checked. In practice the sensible assumption is that treated and marked packaging is expected. Bahrain belongs to the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose neighbours (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman) apply ISPM 15, and Bahrain's imports are largely containerised cargo that has already passed through those regimes. Plant quarantine functions sit with the agriculture side of the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture. Seaborne cargo arrives at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, which replaced much of the older Mina Salman container activity, while a large share of trade also arrives by road across the King Fahd Causeway from Saudi Arabia. Pallet use is mixed: 1200 × 1000 mm pallets dominate Asian-origin retail and industrial goods and 1200 × 800 mm pallets arrive with European supplies. I found no verified pooling operator specific to Bahrain. Shippers should treat the status as unclear: confirm with the consignee or customs broker before dispatch, and use pallets bearing the IPPC mark regardless, as they are accepted anywhere the standard is applied and avoid delays at the causeway.

Key points

  • Not listed in Australia's ISPM 15 implementation table, so no official start date confirmed
  • Bahrain is a GCC member; GCC states generally follow ISPM 15 at the border
  • Cargo moving over the King Fahd Causeway from Saudi Arabia faces Saudi plant-health rules

Frequently asked questions

Does Bahrain require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?

It is not confirmed. No official start date was found, but ISPM 15-marked pallets are the safe choice for any Gulf destination.

Which port handles container cargo?

Khalifa Bin Salman Port is the main container gateway.

Does cargo from Saudi Arabia need treated pallets?

Saudi rules apply to goods entering Saudi territory; for the causeway, check both sides with your broker.

Sources

  1. Australian Dept of Agriculture – ISPM 15 implementation dates by country
  2. IPPC country page – Bahrain

Import rules change. Confirm current requirements with the national plant protection organization or your importer before shipping. This page is general information, not legal advice.