Reminder: Temporary Suspension of Import Enforcement Concerning Wood Packaging Material Not Complying with the ISPM 15 Hyphen Requirement is only in effect until December 31, 2025

Event Reporting

• Non-compliance

Publication Date

17-11-2025

Last Updated

Nov. 17, 2025, 1:27 p.m.

Short Description

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is writing to remind trading partners that the temporary suspension of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) hyphen (-) requirement on imports into the United States of America, announced on March 26, 2025, will only be in effect until December 31, 2025. No regulatory actions will be taken on shipments for solely missing the hyphen after the country code, during this timeframe. All additional requirements of ISPM 15 will continue to be regulated upon entry.

An excessive number of noncompliant shipments have been identified specifically for not possessing the mandated hyphen. ISPM 15 Annex 2, stipulates a hyphen separate the two-letter country code from the producer code; a detail often used to identify fraudulent markings. Due to the numerous noncompliant shipments being found without the hyphen, APHIS is suspended the regulatory actions taken on imports until December 31, 2025, in an effort to supply trading partners and wood packaging material manufactures time to correct the issue.

APHIS will immediately stop taking regulatory action on imported shipments for omission of the stipulated hyphen until December 31, 2025. Action will resume on these noncompliant marks beginning January 1, 2026.

We appreciate your time and attention in partnering to protect this innovative international program. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in creating an efficacious program that can expedite trade.

Contact for Info

Tyrone Jones; [email protected]

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