Fumigation Certificate: Contents, Process and Common Errors

Fumigation certificate explained: which goods need it, what 9 fields it must list, and a fumigation fee of about 300,000-500,000 VND per pallet in Vietnam.

Table of Contents

What is a fumigation certificate?
- How does a fumigation certificate differ from a phytosanitary certificate and the ISPM 15 mark?
Why is a fumigation certificate needed?
Types of goods that usually need a fumigation certificate
What is the fumigation fee? What is the fumigation fee called in English?
The fumigation mark and the fumigation stamp
What the fumigation certificate contains
Conclusion
Frequently asked questions
Contact ICD Vietnam
References

Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 43/2026

A fumigation certificate is a document issued by a licensed treatment provider after fumigating a consignment, stating the chemical, dosage, exposure time, temperature, and the place and date of treatment. For wooden pallets, the ISPM 15 mark on the pallet replaces the paper in most countries; a certificate is needed only when the importing country, the buyer or the L/C asks for one.

24 hours

Minimum exposure time for methyl bromide fumigation of wood packaging under ISPM 15

10°C

Minimum temperature of the wood and the air throughout fumigation

48 g/m³

Example dosage in ISPM 15 when the temperature is 21°C or above

In an export document set, the fumigation certificate is a paper often requested for agricultural goods, wooden products, rattan and bamboo, and cargo packed in wood, because it proves the shipment was treated against insects and pests before leaving port. This article explains what the certificate is, how it differs from the ISPM 15 mark and the phytosanitary certificate, what information it must contain, how to obtain one, the current legal basis in Vietnam, and the errors that get a certificate rejected. For ICD Vietnam’s export wooden pallets, the pallets are treated and stamped with the IPPC mark under ISPM 15 through a licensed provider; ICD Vietnam does not fumigate itself and does not issue certificates itself.

Worker in protective clothing fumigating inside a warehouse — Fumigation takes place in a sealed space and is carried out by a licensed provider; the certificate records the result of that treatment.

What is a fumigation certificate?

A fumigation certificate, also called a fumigation certificate or Fumigation Certificate in English, is a document confirming that a specific consignment has been exposed to a chemical gas in a sealed space to kill insects. The issuer is the treatment provider that carried out the fumigation, not customs. Fumigation differs from spraying: the gas penetrates the goods, the packaging and the crevices of the wood, so it kills termites, borers and nematodes (microscopic roundworms that live in wood, such as the pine wood nematode) hidden inside.

The purpose of fumigation is to stop pests travelling with goods and packing material into another country. The chemicals commonly used are methyl bromide and phosphine; for wood packaging specifically, ISPM 15 recognises only two fumigants, methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride.

Methyl bromide (MB)

The common fumigant for wood packaging, minimum 24 hours of exposure; restricted under the Montreal Protocol.

Sulfuryl fluoride (SF)

The second fumigant recognised by ISPM 15 for wood packaging.

Phosphine (PH₃)

Widely used for grain-type farm produce; not on the ISPM 15 list of treatments for wood packaging.

The full names of the two active substances are methyl bromide (CH₃Br) and phosphine (PH₃). For pallets and wood packaging specifically, ISPM 15 recognises only two fumigation methods, methyl bromide (code MB) and sulfuryl fluoride (code SF); phosphine is widely used for grain-type farm produce but is not on the approved treatment list for wood packaging.

How does a fumigation certificate differ from a phytosanitary certificate and the ISPM 15 mark?

These three documents are often confused with each other, but they are issued by different parties and confirm different things. A fumigation certificate confirms only the treatment; a phytosanitary certificate confirms the consignment meets the importing country’s quarantine requirements; the ISPM 15 mark is applied directly to each pallet.

Document or mark	Issued by	Confirms	When needed
Fumigation Certificate	A licensed provider that treats articles subject to plant quarantine	The consignment was fumigated: chemical, dosage, exposure time, place and date	When the importing country, buyer or L/C asks for it
Phytosanitary Certificate	The national plant protection organisation (in Vietnam, the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection)	The consignment meets the importing country’s quarantine requirements	Agricultural and forest products subject to quarantine
ISPM 15 mark on a pallet	A facility authorised by the plant protection organisation to apply the mark, each with its own code	Each pallet was heat treated or fumigated under ISPM 15	All natural wood packaging accompanying export cargo
Heat Treatment Certificate	The heat treatment facility	The wood core was heated to at least 56°C for 30 minutes	When the buyer wants an extra document for HT-coded pallets

In short, the fumigation certificate answers the question “how was this consignment treated”, while the phytosanitary certificate answers “does this consignment meet the importing country’s requirements”. Many farm-produce consignments need both: the fumigation certificate is one of the grounds on which the quarantine authority issues the phytosanitary certificate.

Why is a fumigation certificate needed?

A fumigation certificate is needed because many importing countries require goods subject to quarantine to be treated before loading and to have paperwork proving it. Cargo by sea sits for days in a sealed, hot and humid container, which suits insects and mould; a consignment carrying a foreign organism can spread pests into the importing country’s ecosystem. Without a certificate the importing country has asked for, cargo may be held at port, forced to be treated again, or sent back.

For wood packaging, the requirement is standardised under ISPM 15: instead of paper, each pallet carries a treatment mark. So for exported wooden pallet cargo, the necessary condition is the fumigation mark on the pallet in the correct ISPM 15 format; a certificate is only supplementary paperwork when there is a separate requirement.

Wooden pallets with an ISPM 15 mark: the mark replaces the paper

Under IPPC guidance, a valid ISPM 15 mark on wood packaging replaces the phytosanitary certificate and other treatment documents, so an importing country should not demand extra paperwork without a technical basis. Even so, some countries still require a declaration of whether the consignment contains wood packaging, and a buyer or bank may write a fumigation certificate into the contract or L/C conditions. In that case the business still has to obtain a certificate for the consignment.

Up to 90%

Of consignments shipped worldwide may use wood packaging (European Commission)

4 codes

Wood packaging treatment methods recognised by ISPM 15: HT, DH, MB, SF

According to the information sheet of the European Commission, wood packaging may be present in up to 90% of consignments shipped worldwide. So even goods that are not farm produce, such as machinery, electronic components or clothing, still have to pay attention to the pallet that comes with them: the goods themselves may not need fumigation, but the natural wood pallet underneath must meet ISPM 15.

Container ship and cranes at a seaport — Cargo by sea sits for days in a hot, humid container, which is why many countries require treatment of goods and wood packaging before export.

Types of goods that usually need a fumigation certificate

Not every kind of cargo needs a fumigation certificate; the requirement is set by the importing country for each commodity. The three groups seen most often are dry farm produce such as rice, coffee, pepper, tea and cashew nuts, which are easily damaged by weevils and stored-product insects; handicrafts and wood products such as furniture, rattan, bamboo and wood without a surface finish; and wood packaging such as pallets, crates and dunnage, a group that uses the ISPM 15 mark instead of a certificate.

For packaging, the boundary between what must be treated and what falls outside ISPM 15 lies in the material: natural wood must be treated, while wood processed with glue, heat and pressure is outside the scope of the standard.

Must be treated under ISPM 15

Pallets, crates, dunnage and bearers made of natural wood thicker than 6 mm, including used wooden pallets reused for export cargo.

Outside the scope of ISPM 15

Packaging made entirely of processed wood such as plywood, particleboard and OSB; wood 6 mm thick or less; plastic and paper pallets.

Depends on importing country rules

Grain-type farm produce, rattan and bamboo goods, handmade wooden goods: whether fumigation is needed and with which chemical is decided by the importing country.

Plastic pallets and pressed wood pallets are the way many businesses avoid having to treat and mark their packaging. Even so, if the goods on top must be fumigated, a fumigation certificate for the goods is still needed, regardless of what the pallet is made of.

Stacks of wooden pallets piled high outside a warehouse — Wooden pallets waiting for loading. For wood packaging, the proof of treatment is the ISPM 15 mark on each pallet; a certificate is made only when requested.

What is the fumigation fee? What is the fumigation fee called in English?

The fumigation fee is what a business pays a treatment provider to fumigate a consignment and issue the certificate. The fee is not fixed: each provider quotes by the volume to be fumigated, the chemical, the temperature and the location, so get a quote for the actual consignment instead of relying on a general figure.

In English, the fumigation fee is called the “fumigation fee”. This fee is usually folded into transport costs or listed separately on the invoice of logistics services.

Fumigation volume

A partial lot under a tarpaulin, or a whole 20 ft or 40 ft container.

Chemical

Methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride or phosphine.

Temperature

Cold weather needs a higher dose.

Location

Fumigated at the owner’s warehouse or at the port yard.

The actual fee depends on the volume to be fumigated (a partial lot under a tarpaulin or a whole container), the type of chemical, the temperature during fumigation and the location (the owner’s warehouse or the port yard). Temperature directly affects the amount of fumigant: the colder it is, the more slowly the wood absorbs the gas, so ISPM 15 requires a higher dose and cumulative concentration.

Wood and air temperature	Example dosage (g/m³)	Minimum concentration after 2 h / 4 h / 24 h (g/m³)	Minimum cumulative over 24 h (g.h/m³)
21°C or above	48	36 / 31 / 24	650
16 - 20.9°C	56	42 / 36 / 28	800
10 - 15.9°C	64	48 / 42 / 32	900

The table above is taken from Annex 1 of ISPM 15 (IPPC, 2018 edition) and applies to methyl bromide fumigation of wood packaging. Below 10°C fumigation is not allowed, and wood with a smallest cross-section of more than 20 cm may not be treated with methyl bromide because the gas has difficulty reaching the core.

Worker wearing a gas mask amid fumigation fumes — Fumigants are highly toxic; the dose and the exposure time depend on the temperature at the time of fumigation.

The fumigation mark and the fumigation stamp

The fumigation mark, or fumigation stamp, is a stamp applied to a wooden pallet or wood packaging after the wood has been treated, as proof that the wood meets biosecurity requirements. It should be understood correctly: this is really the ISPM 15 mark and it is not only for fumigation; a heat-treated pallet carries the same format of mark, differing only in the treatment symbol.

Illustrative diagram following Annex 2 of the ISPM 15 standard (IPPC).

Each mark has 4 components. The IPPC symbol (the ear of wheat of the International Plant Protection Convention) sits on the left. The country code is the 2-letter ISO code of the country of treatment, for example VN (Vietnam) or AU (Australia). The facility code is a unique code issued by the plant protection organisation to each producer or treatment provider, shown as xxx in the diagram for illustration. The treatment symbol shows the method: HT and DH are heat treatment; MB and SF are gas fumigation. A repaired pallet must be treated again and given a new mark if a major part of its components is replaced.

Europe and methyl bromide

Under Regulation (EU) 2024/590 on substances that deplete the ozone layer, all exemptions for the use of methyl bromide in the EU, including for quarantine purposes, ended on 18 March 2010. Even so, the European Commission’s guidance on imported wood packaging still accepts packaging that has been heat treated or fumigated under ISPM 15. A pallet carrying an MB mark made in Vietnam can therefore still enter the EU; many European importers accept only HT, and EPAL-labelled pallets may only be heat treated, so agree the treatment code with the buyer first.

Stack of wooden pallets stamped with an ISPM 15 mark coded MB — A wooden pallet with an ISPM 15 mark showing the symbol MB (fumigated with methyl bromide). The country code and facility code on the mark show where it was treated, making it traceable if something goes wrong.

What the fumigation certificate contains

A valid fumigation certificate gives full details of the consignment, the chemical, the dosage, the exposure time, and the place and date of treatment, and this information must match the invoice, the packing list and the bill of lading. The fields usually present are:

Description of goods, matching the invoice and the bill of lading.
Bill of Lading No., container number and seal number.
Weight and quantity of goods.
Name of the means of transport, for example the vessel name.
Chemical used, for example methyl bromide.
Dosage of the fumigant in grams per cubic metre.
Exposure time together with temperature, for example 48 hours at 25 °C.
Place and date of fumigation.
Name, address, signature and stamp of the treatment provider.

Diagram of the main fields on a methyl bromide fumigation certificate and what to check in each field.

The quickest way to check a certificate yourself is to read the temperature written on the paper, then compare the dosage and exposure time with the dosage table above. In the example diagram: at 25 °C, ISPM 15 takes 48 g/m³ as the example dosage and requires at least 24 hours of exposure, so a certificate stating 50 g/m³ for 48 hours passes. If a certificate states a temperature below 10 °C for wood packaging fumigated with methyl bromide, that is a sign you should ask the treatment provider. Cargo going to Australia must also follow a separate information template, covered in the validity section below.

How to obtain a fumigation certificate

An exporter does not issue the certificate itself but hires a provider that holds a practising certificate for treating articles subject to plant quarantine. According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, this is a conditional business line under the 2013 Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine; the process usually has 5 steps as in the diagram.

The most common error is information on the certificate that does not match the bill of lading. A container number, seal number, goods description or weight that differs from the B/L makes the certificate suspect and holds the cargo for inspection; the way to prevent it is to compare the draft against the B/L and packing list before the treatment provider issues the original. A fumigation date written after the loading date makes the certificate invalid, so schedule fumigation before the container is packed.

The other two errors involve the treatment provider itself. A provider without a practising certificate produces a certificate that is not recognised, so ask to see this certificate before you sign a contract. A dosage or exposure time below what the importing country requires may mean the cargo has to be treated again at the destination port; before you accept the original, compare the dosage, temperature and exposure time on the certificate with the rules of the destination country.

Crane and container yard at a seaport — A certificate with wrong information can leave the shipment held at the destination port while corrections or retreatment are arranged.

Current legal basis in Vietnam

The base text is Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine No. 41/2013/QH13, in force from 1 January 2015 and still in force when we checked on 17 October 2026. The law has been amended by Law No. 35/2018/QH14 and Law No. 146/2025/QH15 (amending 15 laws in agriculture and the environment, effective 1 January 2026); the Office of the National Assembly issued consolidated text No. 69/VBHN-VPQH on 24 March 2026.

The conditions for granting the practising certificate for treating articles subject to plant quarantine are in Decree 66/2016/ND-CP, amended by Decree 33/2026/ND-CP of 21 January 2026; the procedure and dossier were announced in Decision 278/QD-BNNMT of 23 January 2026 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The issuing body is the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, formed on 1 March 2025 when the Plant Protection Department and the Crop Production Department merged; older documents that say “Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development” or “Plant Protection Department” are using names from before this date.

Worker holding documents while checking between warehouse racking aisles — Checking documents against the actual goods before container loading is the cheapest step for avoiding a certificate with wrong information.

How long is a fumigation certificate valid?

There is no general validity period for every fumigation certificate; the interval accepted between the fumigation date and the shipping date is set by the importing country for each commodity. For example, Australia requires that high-risk containers from countries at risk of khapra beetle be treated within 21 days before shipping, and from 1 May 2025 the Australian Department of Agriculture applies version 3.0 of its methyl bromide fumigation method, with new minimum information requirements on the certificate. So fumigate close to the packing date and check the rules of the destination country before you book a slot.

Forklift loading a pallet of goods onto a truck bed — Pallets of goods going onto a truck to the port. The ISPM 15 mark and the documents should be checked before this step.

Conclusion

A fumigation certificate is proof that a consignment has been treated correctly, helping goods pass quarantine quickly and protecting the importing country’s ecosystem. Before exporting, a business should work out whether the destination country requires a certificate, choose a provider with a practising certificate, and check the draft against the bill of lading and against the dosage table by temperature. For wooden pallets, check the ISPM 15 mark on each pallet first; a certificate is made in addition only when the buyer or the L/C states it clearly.

Frequently asked questions

What is a fumigation certificate?

Also called a fumigation certificate (Fumigation Certificate), it is a document issued by a licensed treatment provider after fumigating a consignment, stating the chemical, dosage, exposure time, temperature, and the place and date of treatment.

Quick note

Whether goods need fumigation is decided by the importing country; natural wood pallets accompanying cargo to countries that apply ISPM 15 must be treated and marked.

Why is a fumigation certificate needed for export?

Because many importing countries require goods subject to quarantine to be treated before loading and to have documents proving it, to stop insects and pests spreading across borders.

Do ICD Vietnam export wooden pallets come with a fumigation certificate?

ICD Vietnam wooden pallets for export cargo are treated and given the IPPC mark under ISPM 15 through a licensed provider; this mark replaces the paper in most countries. ICD Vietnam does not fumigate itself and does not issue certificates itself; when a buyer asks for a certificate, it is issued by the treatment provider.

Who issues a fumigation certificate?

The licensed provider that treats articles subject to plant quarantine, after it finishes fumigating the consignment. A phytosanitary certificate is a different document, issued by the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection.

Warehouse worker holding a clipboard of cargo inspection records — When you receive the certificate, check the name of the treatment provider, the signature, the stamp and the consignment fields.

How long is a fumigation certificate valid?

There is no fixed general period. The interval accepted between the fumigation date and the shipping date is set by the importing country; for example, Australia requires containers at risk of khapra beetle to be treated within 21 days before shipping.

Fumigation Certificate

Confirms the fumigation of the consignment.

Phytosanitary Certificate

Confirms the consignment meets quarantine requirements.

ISPM 15 mark

Applied to each pallet, replacing paperwork.

Does a wooden pallet that already has an ISPM 15 mark need a fumigation certificate?

Under IPPC guidance, a valid ISPM 15 mark replaces the paperwork proving treatment, so normally it does not. A certificate is needed only when the importing country, the buyer or the L/C asks for it explicitly.

Does an MB-marked pallet need a certificate when exported to Europe?

Not under the general rules: the EU accepts wood packaging treated by HT or MB correctly under ISPM 15 and bearing the mark. The EU has only banned the use of methyl bromide within the bloc since 18 March 2010; many European importers ask for HT, so ask first.

What is a fumigation certificate called in English and Chinese?

In English it is Fumigation Certificate, in Chinese 熏蒸证书 (xunzheng zhengshu). The fumigation fee in English is fumigation fee.

Contact ICD Vietnam

ICD Vietnam supplies wooden pallets in standard sizes or to your drawing; pallets for export cargo are treated and given the IPPC mark under ISPM 15 through a licensed provider. Please state the destination market and the buyer’s document requirements when you order. ICD Vietnam has a production workshop, a Hanoi warehouse and a southern workshop; price: contact for a quote, volume discount available. No warranty or 7-day return applies to wooden pallets.

North Vietnam: 0983 797 186 / 090 345 9186 / 090 5859 186; Hanoi warehouse: 3rd Floor, Thang Long A1 Building, Bau Hamlet, Thien Loc Commune, Hanoi.
South Vietnam: 098 6784 186; southern workshop: 551/212 Le Van Khuong Street, Tan Thoi Hiep Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City.
Email: sales@icdvietnam.com.vn.
Zalo: Chat with ICD Vietnam on Zalo.

References

ISPM 15 standard, Annex 1 (methyl bromide treatment) and Annex 2 (the mark): International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC); IPPC, FAO - Guide to regulation of wood packaging material (2023).
Requirements for wood packaging imported into the EU: European Commission, Requirements for wood packaging and dunnage; information sheet Wood packaging material (European Commission, 2019).
Regulation (EU) 2024/590 on substances that deplete the ozone layer: EUR-Lex.
Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF): Notice 145-2025 on methyl bromide fumigation certificate requirements; Measures for sea containers under the khapra beetle urgent actions.
Practising in the treatment of articles subject to plant quarantine: Reply of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection on Chinh sach online (in Vietnamese), 17 April 2026.
Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine No. 41/2013/QH13: Government Document System (in Vietnamese); consolidated text 69/VBHN-VPQH of 24 March 2026 (Official Gazette).
Establishment of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection from 1 March 2025: Announcement of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection (in Vietnamese).