Why is ISPM 15 required?
Untreated lumber poses a risk of carrying harmful plant pests. This standard was developed to reduce the risk of transferring those pests. America and Canada have a microscopic pest, called the Pinewood Nematode, that is hazardous to the trees of other continents. China has the Asian Longhorn Beetle that is hazardous to native trees in the United States and Canada. Every locale likely carries some pest that could be dangerous to local plants in a different region. ISPM 15 attempts to limit or reduce the chances of such pests harming native flora and fauna. Since wood packaging (boxes, pallets, crates, dunnage, etc) are typically made from the lowest grade of lumber, the instances of pests is often higher due to the presence of bark.
