Indonesian Vegetables Palletization & ISPM-15: 2026 Guide

A dockside, 10-minute ISPM 15 stamp-check playbook for Indonesian vegetable exporters. What the mark must show, where to find it, how to photo-log it, red flags that trigger EU/US/China holds, and what to do when a stamp is missing or questionable.

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If you’ve ever had a container held because one pallet didn’t have a clean ISPM 15 mark, you know the pain. Detention fees mount. Cold-chain risks creep in. And your buyer loses confidence. We’ve been there. Over the years shipping fresh items like Baby Romaine (Baby Romine Lettuce), Japanese Cucumber (Kyuri), and Tomatoes, we built a simple, on-the-dock system that cuts the risk of ISPM 15 issues to near zero. This is the 2026 version of that playbook.

The 3 pillars of fast, reliable ISPM 15 verification

1. Read the mark correctly. Know what must be there and what’s optional.
2. Verify provider legitimacy. Cross-check the Indonesian code and keep evidence.
3. Document on the spot. Photo-log the marks and retain for your shipment file.

Here’s the thing. Customs in the EU, US, and China don’t care how beautiful your pallet wrap is if the IPPC mark is missing or dubious. Do the three pillars well and you’ll avoid almost all holds.

Week 1–2: Set up your sourcing and verification (tools + templates)

We call this the “zero-drama setup.” Do it before you start building export loads.

• Build your approved provider list. Ask each pallet supplier for their Indonesia NPPO registration code and a copy of their current authorization. In Indonesia this is issued via the Plant Quarantine Agency (Barantan). In practice, you’ll usually see marks like: IPPC symbol | ID-1234 | HT | DB. The country code is ID. The number is the treatment provider or facility code.
• Cross-check the code. Verify the provider number with your pallet vendor and request a dated statement on company letterhead linking that number to their facility. If you can, confirm against the latest NPPO registry or with the local Quarantine office. When in doubt, we’ve found a quick phone verification saves days later.
• Standardize your mark acceptance spec. Put it in your PO terms: 1) ISPM 15 mark with IPPC symbol, country code (ID), facility number, treatment code (HT, MB, or DH), and DB. 2) Mark on two opposite sides of each pallet, legible and permanent. 3) No bark, pest signs, or fresh mold.
• Prepare your dock checklist and photo-naming convention. We label like “INV-PO1234_Pallet07_SideA_ISPM15.jpg.” Keep all images in the shipment folder alongside packing list and container seal photo.

Need our one-page dock checklist and sample photo guide? If you’re wrestling with a live shipment, Contact us on whatsapp. We’ll share what we use with our own fresh loads.

Week 3–6: Your 10-minute on-dock ISPM 15 check (MVP SOP)

This is the routine we run while staging pallets for items like Red Radish and Carrots (Fresh Export Grade):

1. Find the marks fast. Look on stringers or blocks, not on the deck boards. Stamps should appear on two opposite sides. If you only see one, flip or rotate the pallet to confirm the second. Time-saver: train your team to spot the IPPC wheat-ear symbol first.

2. Read the codes, don’t just “see a stamp.” The valid core is: IPPC symbol + country code + facility number + treatment code. For Indonesia you should see “ID-XXXX.” Treatment codes accepted by ISPM 15 are:

   • HT = Heat Treatment (56°C core for 30 minutes). Most common.
   • MB = Methyl Bromide fumigation. As of early 2026, still recognized under ISPM 15 and accepted by EU, US, China. Many buyers prefer HT for sustainability.
   • DH = Dielectric Heating. Less common but valid. Notes: DB (Debarked) is a requirement. KD (Kiln Dried) is optional information and not a standalone ISPM 15 treatment.

3. Check legibility and permanence. The mark must be readable, non-smudged, and stamped or branded so it won’t transfer. Faded ink that’s hard to photograph is a red flag in real inspections.

4. Inspect the wood. No live pests, frass, or bore holes. Bark should be absent. A tiny bark sliver can be okay by the letter of the standard, but in our experience EU inspectors take a hard line. If you see active mold growth, reject or swap out. Staining alone isn’t automatically non-compliant but invites questions.

5. Photo-log each pallet. Take two photos per pallet from opposite sides, close enough to show the entire mark clearly. If you’re loading 20 pallets, you’ll end up with 40 images. It sounds heavy but takes under 10 minutes with practice.

6. Record the facility codes. Keep a simple spreadsheet: pallet number, mark side A, mark side B, facility code, treatment code, and visual status. This becomes gold if an authority queries anything later.

Practical takeaway: If any pallet fails, don’t argue. Swap the pallet. For high-velocity loads like Red Cayenne Pepper (Fresh Red Cayenne Chili) where shipping windows are tight, we keep spare compliant pallets on hand.

What must an ISPM 15 pallet stamp include to be valid?

• IPPC symbol.
• Country code: ID for Indonesia.
• Facility/treatment provider number: e.g., ID-1234.
• Treatment code: HT, MB, or DH.
• DB is required. KD may appear but isn’t a treatment code by itself.

Example text layout you might see on a block: [IPPC symbol] | ID-1234 | HT | DB.

Where should the ISPM 15 mark be located on a pallet?

Two opposite sides. On pallets, that’s usually on a stringer or corner block, not on removable top boards. If it’s only on one side, that’s a common cause of holds.

Is the stamp alone enough, or do I need a certificate for wooden pallets?

For the EU, US, and China, the stamp is the legal basis. A treatment certificate isn’t typically required or even requested at the border. We still keep supplier statements and our photo-log on file in case of post-clearance queries.

Do plastic pallets or slip sheets need ISPM 15?

No. ISPM 15 applies to solid wood packaging. Plastic pallets, paper slip sheets, and composite materials are exempt. We often ship moisture-sensitive greens like Loloroso (Red Lettuce) on plastic pallets for this reason. They avoid both compliance risk and mold concerns.

Can my container be held if one pallet doesn’t have a visible stamp?

Yes. One non-compliant unit can trigger a hold, re-palletization order, or re-export. The risk is even higher if unmarked wood dunnage is used for bracing. Use only compliant, marked dunnage or non-wood alternatives.

Is methyl bromide (MB) treatment still accepted in 2026?

Yes, under ISPM 15. The EU, US, and China recognize MB-marked WPM. Some retailers push for HT-only from a sustainability standpoint. We label the treatment type in our load sheet so buyers know what they’re getting.

How can I verify an Indonesian ISPM 15 treatment provider or facility number on the stamp?

• Ask your supplier for their NPPO authorization letter showing the same number as the stamp.
• Check that the authorization is current and shows the exact facility location.
• If unsure, confirm with the local Barantan office that the code is active. We keep an internal email trail or call log as evidence.
• For repeated shipments, add the code to your approved list and re-validate quarterly or when you onboard a new supplier.

Week 7–12: Scale and optimize

As volumes ramp up, you’ll want consistency.

• Standardize pallets by commodity. For examples, plastic pallets for leafy items in high humidity lanes. Wood HT pallets for hardy items like Beetroot (Fresh Export Grade) and Purple Eggplant.
• Batch-photo approach. Line up four pallets at once and sweep both sides in sequence. You’ll capture eight valid marks in under two minutes.
• Centralize records. Store photo-logs and provider letters in a shared folder tied to each PO and container number. We retain for at least 2 years.
• Train the team. A 15-minute weekly refresh on how to “read” a mark prevents complacency.

The 5 mistakes that kill shipments (and how to avoid them)

1. Assuming any stamp is good. Many stamps show “KD” big and “HT” faint. KD alone isn’t enough. Always look for HT, MB, or DH plus DB.
2. Only one side stamped. Require two opposite sides. If the second side is missing or illegible, swap the pallet.
3. Using unmarked dunnage. Loose wooden bracing without marks is a top hold trigger. Use compliant dunnage with marks or non-wood alternatives.
4. Bark and active mold. Even small bark patches or fresh growth can prompt inspectors to go deeper. Store pallets dry and indoors.
5. Relying on a paper certificate. Border agencies look for marks on the wood. Certificates might help after the fact, but they won’t clear a non-compliant pallet.

Resources and next steps

If you only take three actions this week, do these: 1) Lock your supplier list with verified Indonesian facility codes. 2) Run the 10-minute dockside check on every pallet. 3) Photo-log both sides and archive with the PO. This alone prevents most EU/US/China issues we see.

If you want a copy of our dockside ISPM 15 checklist or need help choosing between wood and plastic for a specific lane, Contact us on email. And if you’re evaluating product-pack formats that pair well with compliant pallets, you can also View our products. Our team ships everything from fresh cucumbers to IQF items like Premium Frozen Edamame and Frozen Mixed Vegetables, so we can share what works lane by lane.

Final thought. ISPM 15 isn’t glamorous, but it’s controllable. In our experience, a crisp mark, a quick photo, and a spare pallet nearby beat any argument at the port. Do the basics well, and your vegetables keep moving.