FAQ EPAL

Yes. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, applicable since 12 August 2026, covers the handling pallet as transport packaging. It replaces Directive 94/62/EC and applies directly across the twenty-seven member states. EPAL has published EU declarations of conformity under article 39 for its load carriers. See the regulatory information page.

It is an ordinary EPAL Euro pallet carrying a QR code that identifies each unit individually, which opens the way to item-level tracking of the fleet. Launched on the market in 2024, it has passed ten million units produced.

The VMF pallet, reference VMF D 3071, is intended for empty glass bottles and jars. It measures 1200 × 1000 × 154 mm, carries 1000 kg and circulates as a returnable carrier. Its specification comes from the French mechanical glassworks industry. See the detail on the types of pallets page.

Yes, wood is one of the commodities covered by Regulation (EU) 2023/1115. Its application has been pushed back to 30 December 2026 for large operators and traders, and to 30 June 2027 for small and micro operators. The companies concerned will have to file a due diligence statement and document the geographical origin of the timber.

CP pallets are dedicated to the chemical industry. The standard defines nine models, from CP1 to CP9, matched to the various forms of packaging used in that sector, with precise requirements on wood quality, fastening and marking.

The EPAL pool rests on exchange: on delivery, the consignee hands the carrier as many pallets as it receives, of equivalent quality. A pallet can only be exchanged while it still meets EPAL criteria, which means no broken board or split block, and legible markings. A pallet outside those criteria has to go through an approved repairer before returning to the circuit.

HT stands for heat treatment of the timber, today the only common process accepted under the ISPM 15 standard. DB indicates debarked wood. MB refers to methyl bromide fumigation, abandoned in the European Union since 2010 on health and environmental grounds: a pallet carrying that mark is necessarily an old one.

A standard 13.60 m semi-trailer takes 33 pallets of 800 × 1200 mm floor-loaded, or 26 pallets of 1000 × 1200 mm. A 20-foot sea container holds eleven Euro pallets, a 40-foot one between twenty-three and twenty-five depending on the packing. Double stacking doubles these figures where the goods allow it.

The markings are the first clue: the EPAL logo in its oval, the manufacturer code, the licence number and the treatment mark should all be sharp, branded and consistent with one another. Then come the quality of the timber, the regularity of the dimensions and the nails, which follow a precise specification. The detail is on our page about EPAL pallet counterfeiting.

Yes, provided the ISPM 15 marking stays legible and the pallet is in good condition, clean and dry. Repair deserves attention: a replacement board has to be treated as well, otherwise the pallet loses its compliance while still carrying the original mark.

The standard EPAL pallet (EUR-1) measures 1200 × 800 × 144 mm.

The average weight is between 22 and 25 kg.

• Dynamic load (in motion): up to 1,500 kg
• Static load (on the ground): up to 4,000 kg

Yes. All EPAL pallets are heat treated (HT) in accordance with ISPM 15, which is mandatory for export.

• EPAL certification
• ISPM 15 certification
• UIC certification (International Union of Railways)
• ISO 9001 certification (quality management)

• EUR 1: 1200 × 800 mm
• EUR 2: 1200 × 1000 mm
• EUR 3: 1000 × 1200 mm
• EUR 6: 800 × 600 mm

The national EPAL committees, under the aegis of the European Pallet Association (EPAL e.V.), in conjunction with independent inspection bodies.

No. EPAL is a European standard, recognised internationally, but there is no single global standard.

Yes. The so-called ‘SNCF’ pallet meets the EUR / EPAL standards, as the SNCF is a member of the UIC, which codified these standards.

Yes, only by an EPAL-approved repairer. A specific repair nail must be affixed.

An EPAL pallet can be reused up to 10-15 times, or even more, if it is properly maintained and repaired.

Yes. The wood can be recycled or recovered, and the nails recovered. Reuse and repair are encouraged before recycling.

The list is available at www.epal-pallets.org.

Yes. Thanks to ISPM 15 treatment, they are accepted in international trade.

The wood in EPAL pallets must not exceed 22% moisture content at the time of manufacture.

Both follow the same standard, but EPAL is now the official body that manages licensing and inspections. Pallets marked “EUR” are older or fall under UIC supervision.

The EPAL license is valid for one year and is renewable after an annual inspection by an authorized control body.

No. Painting or varnishing an EPAL pallet is prohibited, as it may obscure markings or compromise transport safety.

Yes, provided they are clean and treated according to ISPM 15. However, plastic pallets are often preferred in direct food contact areas.

Yes. Their standardized dimensions and construction make them fully compatible with conveyors, forklifts, and automated racking systems.

A one-way pallet is designed for single use. EPAL pallets are returnable, reusable, repairable, and subject to strict quality controls.

It should be sent to an EPAL-authorized repairer. Otherwise, it can be recycled as biomass or in the wood industry.