- ISPM 15 on imports
- Required
- Enforced since
- 2007
- Treatments
- HT, MB (named by MAFF); DH and SF per ISPM 15, confirm with MAFF
- Plant protection authority
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Plant Protection Station
- Common pallet sizes
- 1100 × 1100 mm (T11 pallet, JIS Z 0601)
1200 × 1000 mm
1200 × 800 mm (EUR) - Main ports
- Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe / Osaka
Overview
Japan regulates imported wood packaging in line with ISPM 15 following a pest risk analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Plant Protection Station inspects at ports and airports. The MAFF FAQ names heat treatment (a minimum core temperature of 56 degrees C for 30 minutes) and methyl bromide fumigation as the two methods, and treated wood must carry the IPPC mark. Material that the standard does not cover is exempt: plywood, particle board, oriented strand board, veneer and wood thinner than 6 mm, along with wood that has been heavily processed by heating, polishing or carving. The FAQ says compliant shipments are not subject to inspection, and for those that are not compliant, practice under ISPM 15 is treatment, destruction or return; specific Japanese penalties were not stated on the page we read. An IPPC news item points to implementation from April 2007, which is used as the start year, though the MAFF page itself does not name a date. Japan's main container gateways are Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya and Kobe/Osaka. The pallet market is one of the most standardised in the world: the 1100 × 1100 mm pallet, known as T11 and covered by the JIS standard, dominates domestic logistics, and rental pools such as Japan Pallet Rental (JPR) and Nippon Pallet Pool (NPP) are widely used. Imports arrive on 1200 × 1000 mm and other sizes and are often moved onto T11 pallets.
Key points
- Plywood, particle board, OSB, veneer and wood thinner than 6 mm are not regulated
- Compliant shipments are not required to be inspected
- Highly processed wood packaging is exempt (for example heated, polished or carved)
- Plant Protection Station lists country-specific information on its site
Frequently asked questions
Does Japan require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?
Yes. MAFF regulates imported wood packaging under ISPM 15, and treated wood must carry the IPPC mark.
What is exempt in Japan?
Plywood, particle board, OSB, veneer and wood under 6 mm thick, plus highly processed wood.
What is the standard Japanese pallet?
The T11 pallet at 1100 × 1100 mm.
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.