Yes, you can use wood pallets, but they must follow specific regulations.
If you are planning on using wooden pallets or wooden packaging, make sure that they have been fumigated and stamped by your supplier with the mandatory International Plant Protection Convention (IPCC) stamp, which should be displayed on at least two sides. This stamp certifies that the wood has undergone treatment to eliminate insects harmful to the environment in the United States.
Any wood packaging material that does not have the required IPCC stamp or that is found to be infested with insects will violate regulations set by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and result in penalties from Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
As of November 2017, CBP has increased the severity of penalties to encourage compliance, and the costs of violating the regulations will be passed on to the responsible party.
What is ISPM 15?
ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is an International Phytosanitary Measure developed by the IPCC that addresses the requirement for wood pallets and packaging to be fumigated to prevent infestation by foreign insects.
Are there any alternatives to using wood packaging material?
Yes, several options are not regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), including plywood or press board, plastic pallets, hardboard, parallel strand lumber, metal frames, inflated dunnage, and Masonite veneer.
However, if you are shipping palletized cargo to Amazon, keep in mind that they only accept wooden pallets.