- ISPM 15 on imports
- Required
- Enforced since
- 2005
- Treatments
- HT, DH, SF accepted on imports; MB-marked WPM accepted if ISPM 15 compliant, but MB fumigation itself is no longer permitted inside the EU
- Plant protection authority
- Danish Agricultural Agency (Landbrugsstyrelsen) – IPPC lists the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration site
- Common pallet sizes
- 1200 × 800 mm (EUR)
1200 × 1000 mm
800 × 600 mm (half pallet) - Main ports
- Aarhus, Copenhagen/Malmö, Fredericia, Esbjerg
Overview
Denmark enforces the EU rules for wood packaging. WPM entering from outside the EU needs debarking, an ISPM 15 treatment and the IPPC mark under Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and Annex VII of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. On the IPPC portal the national plant protection organisation is entered under the Danish food and veterinary administration site, with a Director of Seeds, Plants and Biosecurity as contact, and the plant health tasks are carried out by the agricultural authorities. We could not confirm which department currently hosts the website, so the link given is the one listed by the IPPC. Inspectors check consignments at the main entry points, which include Aarhus, Copenhagen, Fredericia and Esbjerg, and at border crossings where road freight arrives from Germany. Because Germany is the land neighbour and an EU member, trade with it needs no ISPM 15 mark; by contrast, goods arriving from Norway, the United Kingdom or Asia must have marked wood. Unmarked or contaminated packaging may be treated, destroyed or sent back. The Danish pallet market is dominated by the EUR pallet at 1200 × 800 mm, and the open pool is strongly used in food retail and the large agricultural export chain, with 1200 × 1000 mm pallets in industry. Denmark is also a home market for CHEP and other pooling schemes, and many Danish pallets that enter long-haul routes are stamped for export.
Key points
- Plant health import checks at ports and border points by the national plant health authority
- Intra-EU movements of WPM generally exempt from ISPM 15 marking (pinewood-nematode rules for Portuguese conifer WPM excepted)
- Heavy ro-ro and ferry traffic with Germany, Sweden and Norway; Norway is a third country for WPM
- Non-compliant WPM may be treated, destroyed or returned at the importer's expense
Frequently asked questions
Does Denmark require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?
Yes, for wood packaging from non-EU countries. It must be treated and marked. Movements within the EU are generally exempt.
Do British pallets need ISPM 15 in Denmark?
Yes. Since Brexit the UK is a third country, so pallets from there must carry the IPPC mark.
Who is the NPPO of Denmark?
The IPPC lists a Danish veterinary and food administration site (fvst.dk); plant health work sits with the Danish agricultural authorities.
Sources
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.