Pallets in Türkiye follow the same size families as neighboring Europe, chiefly the 1200 × 800 mm Euro pallet and the 1200 × 1000 mm industrial pallet, while the legal framework for export pallets is set by a national regulation on heat treatment and marking of wood packaging, which implements ISPM 15. The rules were issued in 2019 and amended in December 2025, so producers and buyers should check the current text.
Sizes in use
Türkiye is linked to the European market by a customs union for industrial goods and by dense road, ferry and rail freight to the EU, so European pallet sizes dominate trade flows. The two common footprints are:
| Pallet | Size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Euro pallet (EUR / EPAL 1) | 1200 × 800 mm (47.2 × 31.5 in) | Retail, FMCG, exchange pallets in EU trade; see the Euro pallet |
| Industrial pallet | 1200 × 1000 mm (47.2 × 39.4 in) | Heavy, bulky and chemical goods; see the 1200 × 1000 mm pallet |
Other sizes are made to order for machinery, tiles, glass and other products. Overseas shipments may need the sizes in pallet sizes by country, for instance 1219 × 1016 mm for North America or 1100 × 1100 mm for Japan.
"Turpal" is sometimes used as a name for a Turkish pallet or pallet pool, but no public, verifiable source describing such a system was found, so this guide makes no claims about it. Readers interested in exchange pallets should consult pallet pooling explained and the national trade associations.
The regulation: heat treatment and marking
The legal basis is the Regulation on Heat Treatment and Marking of Wood Packaging Materials (Ahşap Ambalaj Malzemelerinin Isıl İşleme Tabi Tutulması ve İşaretlenmesine Dair Yönetmelik), issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and published in the Official Gazette on 25 May 2019 (issue 30784). It applies to wood packaging used in exports, such as pallets, crates, boxes, stacking boards, cable spools and bobbins.
According to the ministry's guidance:
- Authorization: a facility must obtain an official authorization certificate from the provincial agriculture directorate before it treats and marks wood packaging. Applicants submit documents such as business registration, treatment-operator certification, capacity reports and tax records.
- Treatment: heat treatment (HT) means a minimum of 56 °C at the core of the wood for at least 30 minutes; dielectric heating (DH) is also recognized for material under 20 cm in thickness. The technical details of both are in heat treatment and dielectric heating.
- Marking: treated packaging carries the ISPM 15 mark with the country code TR, the facility number and the treatment code. The regulation also expects traceability information such as kiln number, batch number and treatment year.
- Records: operators keep computerized temperature records, treatment documents and shipment invoices for two years, protected against alteration.
The mark itself is explained in the ISPM 15 mark. The ministry's text names HT and DH as the permitted methods for marking in Türkiye; this guide does not cover fumigation.
The December 2025 amendment
On 30 December 2025 the Ministry published an amendment to the regulation, reported by the Turkish business press. As reported, the amendment adds administrative penalties for:
- unlicensed operations that apply the ISPM 15 mark to pallets, crates and other packaging;
- facilities that treat wood improperly or hold marking equipment without authorization;
- businesses using non-conforming or undocumented heat-treated materials, or buying from suppliers without a registration certificate;
- attaching cardboard, corrugated material or plastic to correctly treated wood packaging at facilities that are not authorized.
Penalty amounts and exact procedures should be read in the Official Gazette text, which this guide does not reproduce. The practical effect is that responsibility sits not only with the producer but also with the exporter who uses the pallet.
What exporters and buyers should check
- License and mark. Verify that the pallet maker holds the ministry's authorization and that every pallet carries a legible mark with the correct country code and facility number.
- Documents. Ask for treatment records and invoices that match the batch, and keep them as long as the regulation requires.
- Do not modify treated pallets. Repairs and added components can invalidate treatment; see reused and repaired wood packaging.
- Destination rules. Some countries add conditions on top of ISPM 15, covered in ISPM 15 country rules.
- Consequences. A pallet that fails inspection can be treated, re-exported or destroyed at the shipper's expense; see ISPM 15 non-compliance.
Market context
Pallet demand follows Türkiye's manufacturing and export sectors: food and beverages, textiles, white goods, automotive parts and construction materials all move on pallets. Reliable, dated figures for the number of Turkish pallet producers or annual output were not found in public sources checked for this guide, so none are given. Turkish studies of ISPM 15 compliance in the forest products industry exist in the academic literature, for instance an investigation of heat-treating firms by Bartın University researchers, and are a better starting point for sector data than unsourced trade claims.
Frequently asked questions
Which pallet sizes are most common in Türkiye?
The Euro pallet (1200 × 800 mm) and the industrial pallet (1200 × 1000 mm), reflecting trade links with Europe. Export orders to other regions may require different sizes.
Do Turkish export pallets need ISPM 15 marks?
Yes, solid-wood pallets used in exports must be heat treated by an authorized facility and bear the ISPM 15 mark with the country code TR, under the ministry's regulation.
Which authority regulates wood packaging in Türkiye?
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, through its provincial directorates, which issue authorization certificates and carry out inspections.
What changed in December 2025?
The regulation was amended on 30 December 2025 to introduce administrative penalties for unlicensed marking, improper treatment and the use of non-compliant or undocumented wood packaging.
Sources
- Ahşap Ambalaj Malzemelerinin Isıl İşleme Tabi Tutulması ve İşaretlenmesine Dair Yönetmelik (guidance) — Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye
- İhracatta ahşap ambalaj kuralları sıkılaştı — Dünya
- İhracatta kullanılan ahşap ambalaj malzemeleriyle ilgili yönetmelikte değişiklik — Ekonomi Gazetesi
- Türkiye orman ürünleri sanayisinde ISPM 15 standardına göre ısıl işlem uygulayan işletmeler üzerine bir araştırma — Bartın University
- ISPM 15 — Wikipedia