Import rules · Middle East & North Africa

Wood packaging import rules: Jordan

Jordan: 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
Required
Enforced since
—
Treatments
HT, MB (ISPM 15)
Plant protection authority
Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Protection Directorate
Common pallet sizes
1200 × 1000 mm
1200 × 800 mm (EUR)
Main ports
Aqaba, Queen Alia Airport, Karameh / Al-Omari (Iraq and Saudi land borders), Jaber (Syria border)

Overview

Jordan is on the New Zealand MPI and USDA APHIS lists of countries requiring ISPM 15 treated and marked wood packaging. The Plant Protection Directorate in the Ministry of Agriculture oversees plant quarantine, with inspectors at the port of Aqaba, at Queen Alia airport and at the land borders. I could not confirm a first year of enforcement or retrieve the legal text, so that field stays empty. Jordan has a single short coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba, so seaborne imports, whether for the domestic market or in transit, enter through Aqaba, and then travel by road to Amman and beyond. Jordan acts as a corridor for goods bound for Iraq, and for Syria when conditions allow, so packaging that has cleared Aqaba is often re-inspected downstream. Overland trade arrives from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria at border crossings such as Karameh, Al-Omari and Jaber. Consignments with unmarked or infested wood can be fumigated, treated or returned at the importer's cost. The pallet market is a mix of 1200 × 1000 mm and 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallets, with the former common in beverages, industrial goods and Gulf-origin freight. Jordan has a small local pallet manufacturing sector based on imported timber and recycled wood. No international pooling system, such as CHEP or EPAL, is verified. Exporters should use stamped heat-treated pallets for every shipment.

Key points

  • Listed as requiring ISPM 15 on both NZ MPI and USDA APHIS tables
  • Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport
  • Considerable transit freight to Iraq and Syria
  • Plant quarantine checks at Aqaba and land borders

Frequently asked questions

Does Jordan require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?

Yes, Jordan is listed as requiring ISPM 15 compliant wood packaging.

Where is wood packaging inspected in Jordan?

At Aqaba port, Queen Alia airport and land borders by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Why does Aqaba matter for pallets?

It is Jordan's only seaport, and it also serves as a transit route for goods to Iraq.

Sources

  1. New Zealand MPI – ISPM 15 requirements by country
  2. USDA APHIS – Countries requiring ISPM 15 wood packaging
  3. IPPC country page – Jordan

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.