Packaging systems and their standards used in natural building stones industry

Natural building stones are important subjects of our country?s mine exportation. It?s obligatory to have some standards and certificates for natural stone products and the materials used for packaging these products, for being able to be exported to foreign countries.ISPM 15 standard is constituted to prevent foreign pests to spread across countries on wooden materials, which are the important parts of natural stone packages.By this thesis, natural stones, from quarry to end users, are explained; standards and certificates that products have to carry are introduced. The standards and certificates that wooden materials have to carry are researched and ISPM 15 standard is examined by laboratory work and literature researches. Changes in the wooden material are detected by observing the physical characteristics of the material undergone heat- treatment by a kiln situated in the laboratory. Also, the application and application problems of ISPM 15 standard in companies are determined by field observations.By the researches according to the study it?s determined that, it?s possible to prevent adapting of the pests, not belonging to the existing eco-system, to the environment and harming the organisms which are the parts of the system; by properly fulfilling the requirements of ISPM 15 standard. This means, on the basis of countries, prevention from important economical and environmental losses.Keywords: ISPM 15, heat treatment, natural stone, wooden material, CE certificate