Import rules · CIS & Caucasus

Wood packaging import rules: Mongolia

Mongolia: 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
HT, MB (per ISPM 15; national acceptance not confirmed)
Plant protection authority
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry (plant protection); border checks by the General Authority for Specialized Inspection
Common pallet sizes
1200 × 1000 mm
1200 × 800 mm (EUR)
Main ports
Zamyn-Uud (rail, China), Sukhbaatar / Altanbulag (rail and road, Russia), Ulaanbaatar (dry port), Chinggis Khaan airport

Overview

Mongolia has adhered to the IPPC, and plant quarantine is divided between the agriculture ministry and a border inspection authority, but I could not confirm a national rule that requires the ISPM 15 stamp on imported wood packaging. Mongolia does not appear on either the New Zealand MPI or the USDA APHIS lists, so the status is shown as unclear. Mongolia lies between Russia and China and has no coast. Roughly all imports, from fuel to machinery and consumer goods, move by rail or road, mostly through the Chinese border at Zamyn-Uud and Erenhot, and through the Russian crossings at Sukhbaatar and Altanbulag. Sea cargo is usually shipped to Tianjin and sent on by rail. The mining sector, notably Oyu Tolgoi and the coal mines of the Gobi, imports heavy equipment in crates, often built by foreign suppliers with heat-treated wood; this practice reflects the transit regimes of China and Russia more than a Mongolian mandate. Inspectors can detain and require treatment of infested wood at the dry port in Ulaanbaatar or at the border. Pallets in Mongolian logistics are Soviet-era 1200 × 1000 mm or Chinese-sized, with 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallets in retail. Timber is limited, and reuse is common. No pooling system has been verified here. Obtain written conditions from the consignee before shipping.

Key points

  • Landlocked between Russia and China; seaborne cargo transits Tianjin or Russian ports
  • Not listed on NZ MPI or USDA APHIS ISPM 15 lists
  • Wood packaging commonly arrives on Chinese and Russian rail

Frequently asked questions

Does Mongolia require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?

Not confirmed in the sources I could reach. Marked pallets are advisable because Chinese and Russian transit rules apply.

How does cargo reach Mongolia?

By rail and road from China and Russia, since the country is landlocked.

What pallet sizes are used in Mongolia?

1200 × 1000 mm and 1200 × 800 mm are the most common.

Sources

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

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.