Short Answer:
Yes—if the road or flight cases are made of laminated plywood or plastic panels, they are exempt from ISPM 15 requirements. For example, Armor Cases’s road cases, made of WBP grade laminated birch plywood, and flight cases, made of 7MM PP plastic panels, are automatically exempt.
What Is ISPM 15?
Let’s keep it simple and snappy.
ISPM 15 stands for International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15. It’s a global regulation created by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) under the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Its purpose? To stop pests from hitching a ride across borders in untreated wood packaging.
The standard applies to raw wood packaging materials—like pallets, crates, and dunnage—used in international shipping. These materials must be heat-treated or fumigated and then marked with a special stamp to show they’re pest-free.
But here’s the good news: processed wood and plastic materials are exempt.
Why Road and Flight Cases Are Exempt
Road and flight cases are built to be tough and travel-ready. They’re typically constructed from:
- Laminated plywood (often birch, coated with resin or plastic)
- Plastic composite panels (like polypropylene)
- Aluminum extrusions and steel hardware
These materials are processed, meaning they’ve been manufactured using glue, heat, and pressure—a combination that pests can’t survive. That’s why they’re considered low risk and exempt from ISPM 15.
Let’s quote directly from the official ISPM 15 FAQ (ISPM15 FAQ – We have the answers!):
Q: Do I need to apply the ISPM 15 mark to wood packaging material which is made wholly of processed wood material?
A: No, plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer that has been created using glue, heat or pressure, or a combination thereof is of sufficiently low risk and to be exempted from the provisions of the ISPM standard.
And further:
Q: Are there exemptions in the ISPM15 standard?
A: The following articles are of sufficiently low risk to be exempted from the provisions of the ISPM15 standard:
- wood packaging material made entirely from thin wood (6 mm or less in thickness)
- wood packaging made wholly of processed wood material, such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or veneer that has been created using glue, heat or pressure, or a combination thereof.
- barrels for wine and spirit that have been heated during manufacture
- gift boxes for wine, cigars and other commodities made from wood that has been processed and/or manufactured in a way that renders it free of pests
- sawdust, wood shavings and wood wool
- wood components permanently attached to freight vehicles
So, if your case is made from WBP grade laminated birch plywood or 7MM PP plastic panels, like those from Armor Cases, it’s automatically exempt. No treatment. No stamp. No stress.
What Is the ISPM 15 Marking?
For wood packaging that does require compliance, there’s a specific marking system.
Here’s what it means:
- IPPC Logo: The international symbol of compliance.
- AU: Country code (Australia, in this case).
- 1234: Unique registration number of the treatment provider.
- HT: Treatment method (HT = Heat Treatment, MB = Methyl Bromide)
This mark must be:
- Legible
- Permanent
- Visible on at least two opposite sides
But—and this is key—if your packaging is exempt, like Armor Cases’s road and flight cases, you don’t need the mark. Why? Because the materials are already pest-free due to their manufacturing process. It’s like having a backstage pass that lets you skip the security check.
Final Thoughts: Travel Smart, Ship Smarter
To wrap it up:
- ISPM 15 is a global standard to prevent pests from spreading via untreated wood packaging.
- It applies to raw wood, not processed materials.
- Laminated plywood and plastic panels are processed and therefore exempt.
- The official ISPM 15 FAQ confirms this exemption.
- Armor Cases’ road and flight cases, made from WBP laminated birch plywood and 7MM PP plastic, are fully compliant by exemption.
So whether you’re shipping gear to a gig or equipment to an expo, you can rest easy knowing your road and flight cases made by Armor are good to go. Contact us if your exporter requests you transport cases to be ISPM 15 certified or exempted.