A genuine EPAL Euro pallet carries up to ten marking elements: the "EPAL in oval" brand on both outer corner blocks, an ISPM 15 (IPPC) mark with country code, plant-protection registration number and treatment code on the middle block, the licensee's number with year and month of production, a control staple, and, after a licensed repair, a repair nail. Each element can be checked, and a missing or inconsistent mark is the first sign that a pallet is not exchangeable.
Where the marks are
A Euro pallet has three blocks along each long side: left, middle and right. The branding is distributed as follows, according to EPAL's technical data:
| Position | Marking | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Left and right corner blocks | Branded "EPAL in oval" (on both since August 2013) | The pallet belongs to the EPAL system and was produced or repaired under licence |
| Middle block | IPPC symbol | The pallet is wood packaging treated under ISPM 15 |
| Middle block | Country code and registration number | The country of treatment and the plant-protection authority's number for the producer |
| Middle block | Treatment code (HT) | Heat treatment, the method used for all newly produced EPAL pallets since 2010 |
| Middle block | Licence number, year, month | Who produced or repaired the pallet and when |
| Board or block | Control staple | Quality-control mark applied by the licensee |
| Block or board, if repaired | Repair nail | Repair carried out by a licensed repairer |
The ISPM 15 elements appear on the middle blocks of the long sides. The details of the standard are in the ISPM 15 mark. The smaller parts, staple, nails and repair nail, are described below.
Reading the corner blocks
Before the August 2013 change, the left and right corner blocks of a Euro pallet bore different logos. One side showed the EPAL logo and the other the older EUR logo, each encircled by an oval. Since August 2013, EPAL has branded both corner blocks of the long side with "EPAL in oval". Older pallets of this generation are still in circulation, so a mixed pair of logos on an old pallet is not suspicious by itself.
For the quality classification of used pallets, the corner marks also matter. A new class A pallet must carry the EPAL brand on all four corner blocks, while pallets of class B and C need at least one legible EPAL marking on each side. See used EPAL pallet quality classes.
Reading the middle block
The middle block carries the ISPM 15 mark, which has a fixed structure defined by the International Plant Protection Convention: the IPPC symbol, the ISO two-letter country code, a registration number issued by the national plant-protection organization for the treatment facility, and a code for the treatment applied. On an EPAL pallet the treatment code is HT (heat treatment).
The licence line gives the EPAL licensee's number followed by the year and month of production or repair. This lets a buyer or inspector trace a pallet back to a producer, spot an implausible date, or identify a specific licensee when quality problems occur. EPAL describes this field as licence number, year and month; the exact layout on a physical block may vary between producers.
Marks that are illegible, partly rubbed away or inconsistent with each other deserve a closer look.
Control staple, nails and the repair nail
Three small metal parts carry as much information as the brands:
- Control staple: a staple that must be present on a pallet produced by a licensee. It shows the pallet passed the licensee's production control, and its absence on a supposedly new pallet is a warning sign.
- Nail head marking: all nails used in an EPAL Euro pallet carry a two-letter head marking. Only nails approved by EPAL and verified by neutral testing institutes may be used.
- Repair nail: after a licensed repair, the repairer adds a nail marked with the EPAL trademark and the repair licence number. A pallet repaired without this nail, or by an unlicensed company, is not exchangeable.
Using the marks in practice
A short field check for a receiving dock or a pallet buyer:
- Brand: is "EPAL in oval" burned into at least one legible corner block on each side?
- Middle block: are the IPPC symbol, country code, registration number and HT readable?
- Licence line: does it show a licence number plus a plausible year and month?
- Staple: is a control staple present?
- Repairs: if boards have been replaced, is there a repair nail?
- Nails and dimensions: are the nail heads marked, and does the pallet measure 1200 × 800 × 144 mm?
If any answer is no, the pallet may be non-exchangeable, or may be a counterfeit; see how to spot counterfeit Euro pallets. The reference specification is in the Euro pallet (EUR/EPAL 1).
Other EPAL load carriers
The other pallets of the family, such as the EPAL 2, EPAL 3, half pallets and box pallets, carry the same type of branding and the same ISPM 15 elements. The EPAL box pallet has an embossed EPAL oval and a control seal in place of the nailed marks of wooden pallets. Dimensions and loads are in EPAL pallet types.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the EPAL mark on a Euro pallet?
The "EPAL in oval" brand is on the outer corner blocks of the long sides. On pallets made since August 2013 it appears on both corner blocks.
What does the number on the middle block mean?
It contains the licensee number plus the year and month of production or repair. The ISPM 15 elements next to it (country code and registration number) identify the heat-treatment operator.
What is the control staple on an EPAL pallet?
It is a quality-control staple applied by licensed producers. A new pallet without one does not meet EPAL requirements.
Is a pallet without the EPAL brand a Euro pallet?
No. A pallet of the same dimensions with no EPAL branding is a non-branded 1200 × 800 mm pallet and does not belong to the EPAL exchange system.
Sources
- EPAL Euro Pallet (EPAL 1) technical data — European Pallet Association
- EPAL Euro pallet (EPAL 1) data sheet — EPAL data sheet hosted by Qimarox
- EPAL Quality and Exchange guide — European Pallet Association
- EPAL 6 half pallet data sheet — EPAL data sheet hosted by Qimarox
- EPAL box pallet — European Pallet Association
- EUR-pallet — Wikipedia