When shipping inventory to the bonded warehouse, it’s important to meet the requirements for inbound packaging. One key rule is that all wooden pallets entering the bonded zone must be IPPC certified. This certification ensures compliance with international plant protection standards and prevents issues that can cause delays in inbound processing.
Things to keep in mind
Check that all wooden pallets have the IPPC certification stamp before shipping.
Unstamped or non-compliant pallets will cause bonded inbounds to be held outside the bonded zone.
Using plastic pallets is a good backup option if IPPC-certified wooden pallets are unavailable.
Our pallet dimensions are 48" × 40" (3.94 ft × 3.28 ft), with a maximum stacking height of 71" (5.91 ft).
Requirement for bonded inbounds
All shipments entering the bonded warehouse must use IPPC-certified wooden pallets. Each pallet should have a visible IPPC stamp to confirm it meets international treatment standards.
What’s happening
Some inbound pallets have been held up at customs because they arrived on wooden pallets that do not meet IPPC requirements.
Why it’s happening
The wooden pallets do not have the IPPC certification stamp, which indicates that the pallets were treated to prevent pests and diseases. Without this stamp, customs cannot allow the shipment to move into the bonded warehouse.
How to resolve
Customs will hold the shipment and send the goods to an intermediary warehouse so the items can be transferred onto compliant pallets.
To prevent future delays:
Use IPPC-certified wooden pallets with a visible stamp, or
Use plastic pallets, which are fully acceptable and do not require any certification.
Alternative to wooden pallets
If your supplier cannot provide IPPC-certified wooden pallets, they can use plastic pallets instead. Plastic pallets are acceptable for bonded inbounds and help avoid processing delays.