Only companies with an EPAL licence may produce or repair EPAL pallets and apply the "EPAL in oval" trademark. A company applies to EPAL or to an EPAL national committee, supplies company documents, builds test pallets to the EPAL technical regulations and passes an inspection by EPAL's appointed inspection company. EPAL states that the procedure should not take longer than three months, and there is no legal entitlement to approval.
What the licence covers
EPAL licences relate to producing and/or repairing EPAL load carriers; EPAL's licensing documents also refer to trading in them. A licence holder is called a licensee. The distinction between producing and repairing is practical:
- Producers build new pallets from raw timber or components and must master the full specification, from board thickness to nail pattern. The standard Euro pallet is described in the Euro pallet guide.
- Repairers restore damaged, exchangeable pallets to the standard using dimensionally correct parts and mark each repair with an EPAL repair nail carrying the repairer's licence number. Repair methods are covered in pallet repair.
Separate approval guides exist for particular products; for instance, EPAL publishes distinct guides for the approval of manufacturers and of repairers of EPAL box pallets.
Step-by-step process
- Contact and apply. Applications are made through the licensee area of the EPAL website ("Becoming a licensee") or through one of the EPAL national committees. EPAL reports national committees in 14 countries and representatives in four more, with headquarters in Düsseldorf.
- Submit documents. EPAL's FAQ lists a signed application, a copy of the applicant's identification, proof of business registration and a site plan. A valid VAT number is required.
- Pay the procedure costs. The applicant bears the cost of the licensing procedure under EPAL's fee schedule. According to EPAL's FAQ, the cost is a €550 processing fee plus a €600 evaluation-visit fee, €1,150 in total. Fees change, so the current schedule should be checked. Costs are not refunded if the application is rejected.
- Build test models. The applicant produces test pallets that comply with the EPAL technical regulations. Test models carry control staples or repair nails before circulation, and repair applicants must order nails from EPAL-approved suppliers.
- Technical inspection. EPAL's inspection company visits the site and examines the pallets and the equipment. A repeat inspection can be requested within four weeks after a negative result.
- Decision. EPAL approves or rejects the application. If the application fails, the applicant must remove the "EPAL in oval" markings from the test models.
- Start of operations. After licensing, the new licensee may apply the brand on pallets produced or repaired in accordance with the regulations.
Requirements for the plant
The technical equipment must meet the requirements of the EPAL technical regulations. In practice, applicants must be able to:
- cut boards and blocks to tight tolerances, since the Euro pallet allows ±3 mm on its main dimensions;
- nail the pallet with the specified 78 EPAL-approved, head-marked nails in the stipulated pattern;
- treat the wood to ISPM 15, which EPAL describes as heat treatment with the core of the wood reaching at least 56 °C for at least 30 minutes, and be registered with the national plant-protection organization to apply the IPPC mark;
- apply the control staples and the branded marks required by the regulations.
Treatment and marking rules are covered in the ISPM 15 certification process and kiln practice in heat treatment kiln operation. Quality assurance in production is covered in pallet quality control. Machinery choices are discussed in pallet machinery overview.
Timeline
EPAL's FAQ says the licensing process should not exceed three months from application, with a grace period that can extend to a maximum of six months. The applicant must meet its obligations to cooperate within three months or the application can be rejected. Real timelines depend on how soon the plant is ready for inspection.
Obligations and sanctions after approval
A licence is not a one-time certificate. Licensees remain bound by the EPAL technical regulations and inspections. A negative inspection is recorded when the deviation tolerance is exceeded or when the inspection is refused. According to EPAL, the Board may then impose:
| Sanction | Range |
|---|---|
| Fine | €500 to €50,000 |
| Suspension of trademark use | three months or permanent |
| Additional inspections | mandatory extra checks |
| Withdrawal of the licence | licence ends |
The same mechanism protects the pool against counterfeit work by outsiders; see how to spot counterfeit Euro pallets. Licence duration and renewal terms are not stated in the public documents consulted, so applicants should ask EPAL directly.
Is a licence worth it?
For a producer, an EPAL licence opens the market for Euro pallets, which dominate European exchange logistics, and gives credibility with retailers and logistics firms. Against that stand the fees, the cost of compliance with a detailed specification and audits, and the quality discipline needed. Many pallet companies also trade non-EPAL pallets of the same size, and some serve markets where the EPAL brand is not required. The economics are part of starting a pallet business.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for an EPAL licence?
Any company that can meet the technical regulations and pass inspection. Applications go to EPAL or a national committee, together with business registration, identification and a site plan.
How long does it take to get an EPAL licence?
EPAL says the process should not exceed three months from application, extendable by a grace period to a maximum of six months.
How much does the application cost?
According to EPAL's FAQ, €1,150 in total (€550 processing and €600 evaluation visit). Fees are non-refundable if the application is rejected and may change over time.
What happens if a licensee breaks the rules?
EPAL can impose fines of €500 to €50,000, suspend trademark use for three months or permanently, order additional inspections or withdraw the licence.
Sources
- EPAL licensing FAQ — European Pallet Association
- EPAL licensing stipulations (27 May 2021) — European Pallet Association
- EPAL Euro Pallet (EPAL 1) technical data — European Pallet Association
- Guide to approval of manufacture of EPAL box pallets (2016) — European Pallet Association
- Guide to approval as repairer of EPAL box pallets (2016) — European Pallet Association
- 1,000 counterfeit EPAL Euro pallets seized at Ukrainian/Slovakian border — FoodNavigator