How to handle goods detained due to the absence of an IPPC mark on export packaging?

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Freight Knowledge Base

Time of issue：

2026-04-17 15:56

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In accordance with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM 15) and the customs regulations of various countries, all solid-wood packaging used in international trade—such as pallets, dunnage wood, and wooden crates—must undergo pest-control treatment and be marked with the IPPC logo; otherwise, such packaging will be deemed non-compliant.

Processing Procedures and Response Measures

Confirm the situation immediately and contact the agent.

Immediately contact the consignee at the port of destination, the customs clearance agent, or the freight forwarder to obtain the official detention notice issued by customs, which shall clearly specify the exact reasons for the violation and the deadline for resolution.

At the same time, be sure to notify the domestic shipper or supplier so that they can collaborate on addressing the subsequent corrective actions and determining liability.

Coordinate with Customs to select a handling plan.
Customs typically processes applications in the following order of priority; you must make your selection as soon as possible:

Preferred option: Mandatory pest control treatment at the port of destination (most common).

Operation : Apply to have the goods moved to a designated site and to subject unmarked solid-wood packaging to mandatory fumigation or heat treatment.

Cost and Time : All charges (including inspection fees, fumigation fees, warehousing fees, container detention charges, agency fees, etc.) shall be borne by your party. These costs typically far exceed the expense of a single pre-export compliance fumigation, and the processing period generally takes 1–3 days.

Alternative plan: Change the packaging

Operation Under customs supervision, unmarked solid-wood packaging shall be dismantled and destroyed, and replaced with compliant packaging (such as wood packaging bearing the IPPC mark, or fumigation-free plywood or plastic pallets).

Cost : This approach is complex to implement, involving labor, new packaging materials, and disposal costs, resulting in higher overall costs than direct fumigation.

Worst-case scenario: return shipment or destruction

If the goods themselves are not suitable for fumigation—such as precision instruments or food—or if corrective measures cannot be implemented within a short timeframe, and Customs deems the risk to be high, the goods may be ordered to be returned or even have their packaging or the goods themselves destroyed.

Attention : Returning the shipment will incur substantial costs, including round-trip ocean freight and destination port charges, and the process is time-consuming.

Prepare to accept the fine
In addition to handling fees, you will almost invariably face administrative penalties from customs. The amount of the fine varies depending on the nature of the violation; for instance, Chinese customs may impose fines of several thousand yuan for similar infractions, with even higher penalties in serious cases.

Answer to the core question: Can it be solved with money?

Yes, but “spending money” refers to paying official, compliant processing fees and fines, not “bribing” through informal channels. All handling must be conducted under customs supervision and in accordance with formal procedures.

Under no circumstances should you attempt to conceal information or submit false documents. , which may result in aggravated penalties and even criminal liability.

How to seek recourse from the supplier?

To avoid bearing all losses on your own, you may seek indemnification from the supplier under the contract after the fact. It is recommended that the following clause be expressly included in the procurement contract:

“The Seller shall use wood packaging that complies with ISPM 15 standards and bears a valid IPPC mark. If the goods are detained at the port of destination or incur additional costs (including, but not limited to, customs fines, fumigation fees, storage charges, demurrage, return shipping costs, etc.) due to the absence of an IPPC mark on the packaging or the invalidity of such mark, all resulting losses shall be borne by the Seller.”

Key Prevention: Which Packaging Really Requires the IPPC Mark?

Correctly identifying the packaging type can prevent problems at the source:

Solid wood packaging requiring IPPC marking	Not needed Packaging with the IPPC mark
Pallets, skids, wooden crates, wooden barrels, wooden wedges, and other items made from natural wood	Plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, and other manufactured wood panels
Solid wood support strips and sliders with a thickness exceeding 6 mm	Thin wood panels or wood-based materials with a thickness of less than 6 mm
Unprocessed wooden padding	Wooden wine barrels and gift boxes that have undergone intensive processing such as high-temperature and high-pressure treatment
	Non-wood packaging such as plastic, metal, and paper

Important Notice The above information is based on general international rules and typical customs procedures in China; however, the specific enforcement standards may vary from one country or region to another. We recommend that you consult a professional customs broker or freight forwarder at your destination port to obtain advice tailored to local requirements.

If you could provide me with the specific country or port where the goods are currently being detained, as well as the type of wood packaging used (e.g., solid wood pallets or plywood crates), I would be able to help you analyze more targeted mitigation measures.

Keywords:

IPPC mark,Exported goods

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