- ISPM 15 on imports
- Required
- Enforced since
- 2005
- Treatments
- HT, DH, SF accepted on imports; MB-marked WPM accepted if ISPM 15 compliant, but MB fumigation itself is no longer permitted inside the EU
- Plant protection authority
- Państwowa Inspekcja Ochrony Roślin i Nasiennictwa (PIORiN) – Main Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection
- Common pallet sizes
- 1200 × 800 mm (EUR/EPAL)
1200 × 1000 mm
800 × 600 mm (half pallet) - Main ports
- Gdańsk, Gdynia, Szczecin-Świnoujście, Małaszewicze (rail border crossing with Belarus)
Overview
Poland enforces ISPM 15 on wood packaging from outside the EU under Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, following the EU-wide start of the requirement in March 2005. The national plant protection organisation is the State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service (PIORiN), headed by its Main Inspectorate, with regional inspectorates in each voivodeship. These regional offices register Polish companies allowed to treat and mark packaging and carry out the phytosanitary checks at border control posts. Poland's geography sets it apart from most EU members. Besides the Baltic seaports of Gdańsk, Gdynia and Szczecin-Świnoujście, the country guards a long external EU land border with Belarus and Ukraine. Rail freight from China enters the EU at the Małaszewicze terminal near Terespol. Because Belarus and China are both on the EU list for intensified checks, wood packaging carrying certain goods such as stone or steel must be inspected in at least 15% of consignments under Regulation (EU) 2024/288. Packaging found without a valid mark or with pest damage can be held for treatment or destruction, or the consignment refused. Poland is one of Europe's major pallet producers. Its sawmilling and wood-processing sector supplies large volumes of EPAL/EUR 1200 × 800 mm pallets to Germany and other EU markets, and heat-treatment capacity is widespread among producers. Domestically, the EUR pallet dominates, and rental pools such as CHEP and LPR are present in fast-moving consumer goods distribution.
Key points
- PIORiN regional inspectorates register ISPM 15 producers and inspect at border control posts
- Long EU external land border (Belarus, Ukraine) means many WPM checks happen at road and rail crossings
- At least 15% of consignments of specified goods (e.g. stone, iron/steel) from China, India and Belarus have their WPM checked (Reg. (EU) 2024/288, valid to end-2026)
- Intra-EU movements of WPM generally exempt from ISPM 15 marking (pinewood-nematode rules for Portuguese conifer WPM excepted)
- Poland is a major producer of EPAL/EUR pallets for the European market
Frequently asked questions
Does Poland require ISPM 15 for wooden pallets?
Yes, for wood packaging from non-EU countries, including goods arriving by rail or road from Belarus and Ukraine.
Who inspects wood packaging entering Poland?
PIORiN, the State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service. Its regional inspectorates work at seaports and land border crossings.
Are China–Europe rail shipments through Poland checked for wood packaging?
Yes. China and Belarus are on the EU's intensified-check list, so WPM carrying certain goods arriving at crossings such as Małaszewicze is checked in at least 15% of consignments.
Sources
- IPPC country page – Poland
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/288 on checks of wood packaging material (ECOLEX)
- Regione Veneto – Imballaggi in legno (EU 15% checks for China, India, Belarus)
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.