- ISPM 15 on imports
- Required
- Enforced since
- —
- Treatments
- HT, MB, DH, SF per ISPM 15
- Plant protection authority
- Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Department of Agriculture
- Common pallet sizes
- 1200 × 1000 mm
1100 × 1100 mm
1200 × 800 mm - Main ports
- Manila (South Harbor / MICT), Batangas, Cebu, Subic Bay
Overview
In the Philippines the Bureau of Plant Industry under the Department of Agriculture is the plant protection authority named by the IPPC, and its plant quarantine officers inspect imported cargo at seaports and airports. Wood packaging is expected to be treated under ISPM 15 and marked. If officers find unmarked or infested pallets they can order treatment, destruction or return of the goods at the owner's expense. We did not confirm the date when enforcement began and left it empty. The Port of Manila, comprising the South Harbor and the Manila International Container Terminal, takes the bulk of foreign container traffic, but congestion has pushed some volume to Batangas, to Cebu, and to Subic Bay in the north. The archipelago structure of the country means pallets also travel on inter-island ro-ro and cargo vessels, which makes durable pallets valuable. Sizes in use include 1200 × 1000 mm, the most common general footprint, 1100 × 1100 mm in electronics and Japanese-linked supply chains, and 1200 × 800 mm for some European and retail flows. Much of the country's pallet supply is made by local sawmills and carpenters from coconut and plantation timber, while plastic pallets have taken a share in food and beverage production. Exporters of electronics, food and furniture usually need heat-treated pallets with a registered stamp.
Key points
- Plant quarantine is the Bureau of Plant Industry's job, carried out by its National Plant Quarantine Services Division
- Entry is controlled by quarantine clearance at ports
- Non-compliant wood packaging may be treated, destroyed or re-exported
- BPI formally registers heat-treatment providers (not verified in detail)
Frequently asked questions
Does the Philippines require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?
Yes, imported wood packaging should be treated and carry the IPPC mark; non-compliant material can be treated, destroyed or returned.
Who is the Philippine NPPO?
The Bureau of Plant Industry under the Department of Agriculture.
What pallet size is common?
1200 × 1000 mm is the general-purpose size; 1100 × 1100 mm is used in electronics.
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.