Why Some Hay Creek Pallets Have a Stamp on The Side

Ever wonder why some pallets have a code and a wheat stamp on the side? Some Hay Creek Companies pallets have that stamp, too. Here is a little more information about why.

The international transport of solid wood packaging material is regulated by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), which is a subdivision of Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations. The IPPC issues the regulations known as International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), which stipulates the treatments and protocols necessary to reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of invasive pests in containers used for shipping items around the globe. Countries that choose to participate in the ISPM 15 program only accept and export properly treated and marked wood packing materials.

Each stamp has several different forms but all contain the same information: The IPPC “Wheat Stamp,” country of origin, facility code, and type of treatment. Ours is HT for heat treatment. You can learn more about the regulations at Pallet Central

Heat treating is also important for pallets used for transporting food products. At Hay Creek Companies, we have a heat chamber for treating pallets on site. A heat treated pallet is one which has been heated at the core to 56 degrees Celsius (132.8 °F) for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Hay Creek Companies also does custom treating for pallets our customers bring to us. We are always happy to talk with customers about the requirements and how we can assist them with meeting these.