Wood packaging import rules: Dominican Republic

ISPM 15 on imports

Required

Enforced since

2006

Treatments

HT, MB, DH, SF (ISPM 15 approved treatments)

Plant protection authority

Ministerio de Agricultura, Departamento de Sanidad Vegetal

Common pallet sizes

1200 × 1000 mm
48 × 40 in (1219 × 1016 mm), US-linked trade
1200 × 800 mm (EUR)

Main ports

Haina, Caucedo (Multimodal Caucedo), Puerto Plata, Manzanillo (Montecristi)

Overview

The Dominican Republic is a member of the IPPC, and plant health import control is handled by the Ministry of Agriculture through its plant health department. The Dominican Republic appears on the USDA APHIS list of countries that have stated in writing that they require ISPM 15 wood packaging, and the Australian Department of Agriculture implementation table gives a date of enforcement of 1 July 2006, so the requirement is recorded as yes. Importers should still confirm current details with the plant health department. In practice most goods enter from the United States, China and Europe, and the supply chains that serve the country generally use heat-treated and stamped pallets because the same pallets must meet US and Caribbean rules on re-export. Containers mainly pass through Haina and Caucedo on the south coast near Santo Domingo, with Puerto Plata on the north coast and Manzanillo in the northwest serving smaller volumes. The country's free zones and tourism and agricultural export sectors drive demand for pallets, and fruit, bananas and other agricultural exports are shipped on treated pallets because they go to markets that enforce ISPM 15. If a consignment is found with untreated or infested wood, the usual approach under ISPM 15 practice is treatment, destruction or return at the importer's expense, though Dominican-specific procedures were not confirmed. Pallet sizes follow a mix of 1200 × 1000 mm and the 48 × 40 inch North American footprint, with some 1200 × 800 mm from Europe, and no verified rental pool.

Key points

• Phytosanitary control is run by the Ministry of Agriculture, plant health department
• Listed by USDA APHIS among countries that require ISPM 15; Australia's DAFF records enforcement from 1 July 2006
• Major US trade partner, so most inbound pallets are already stamped

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. IPPC country pages (generic)
2. USDA APHIS – Countries That Require ISPM-15 Compliant Wood Packaging
3. Australian Dept of Agriculture – ISPM 15 implementation dates by country

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.