Use the Canadian requirement for the actual movement
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency publishes wood-packaging entry requirements in directive D-98-08. UK exporters should use the applicable conditions for their shipment rather than assume that arrangements for other origins apply. Include transit and onward movement when discussing the route with the importer.
Identify all wood packaging
List the pallet, crate, collars, blocking and dunnage used with the cargo. Send the packaging description to the importer or broker early enough for questions to be resolved before dispatch. A processed-wood panel does not establish that a case’s solid-timber supports are exempt.
Check the supplied units
Ask the supplier to confirm the required treatment and marking of the actual packaging. Inspect condition and readable marks before wrapping, and keep the order and delivery reference. If timber is changed during packing, have the revised assembly reviewed instead of relying on the original pallet order.
Separate pallet acceptance from border requirements
The Canadian customer may require a particular footprint, construction or handling capability. Obtain that specification alongside the plant-health requirement. A compliant mark does not establish that the pallet works with the customer’s rack or pallet truck, and a customer-approved footprint does not establish ISPM 15 status.
Information for your enquiry
Give the Canadian destination, any transit countries, pallet dimensions, quantity, gross cargo weight and contact pattern. Include the UK delivery postcode and the date needed for packing. Ask the importer who will resolve any packaging query and keep that contact with the shipment record.
Avoid assumptions about exceptions
Country-of-origin or bilateral arrangements can have conditions. A shipment sent from Great Britain should not be treated as eligible for an exception merely because similar pallets move elsewhere in North America. Use the CFIA directive and the importer’s current instructions for the precise movement.
Sources & further reading
Canadian Food Inspection Agency: D-98-08 wood packaging requirements (opens in a new tab)References reviewed 7 October 2026. Confirm the current rules for your shipment with the relevant authority or freight adviser.