The Importance of Pallet Markings

Did you know that pallet markings can provide useful information? IPPC ISPM 15 stamps, for example, indicate that the pallets have been treated and are safe to enter the country without risking potentially devastating wood-borne insect hitchhikers.

While ISPM 15 is crucial to maintaining forest health, identifying pallet markings is sometimes just fun. Checking out a stack of empty pallets at a retailer’s location is a great way to grasp the international flavor of the food supply chain that delivers products to your local store. 

For example, watch for country codes stamped on pallets from nations such as MX (Mexico), CR (Costa Rica), or CL (Chile). Such countries regularly import food products to North America, and the pallets must have ISPM 15 stamps, including the pallet’s country of origin. Alternatively, you might see a pallet from IT (Italy) at the olive oil shop or from the NL (The Netherlands) or DE (Germany) at a specialty beer store. Meanwhile, over at the tile and marble store, you are likely to see pallets from other nations, such as CN (China), TR (Turkey) or ES (Spain).  

In this article, we introduce some of the common pallet markings and pallet color coding you will encounter, including ISPM 15 stamps, ownership markings, manufacturer and date of production, contact information, and even residual lumber grade stamps. By the end, you will be equipped to understand the basics of pallet markings and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge.

ISPM 15 Stamps

The ISPM 15 program, or International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15, is a globally recognized standard developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to prevent the international spread of pests and diseases through wooden packaging materials. 

This program mandates that all solid wood packaging materials, such as pallets, crates, and dunnage, be treated either by heat or fumigation (methyl bromide) and then marked with a specific stamp indicating compliance. This stamp includes the IPPC logo, the country code, the producer or treatment provider code, and the treatment method code. The ISPM 15 standard is crucial for safeguarding agriculture and forests by ensuring that wooden packaging used in international trade does not harbor harmful pests.

The ISPM 15 stamp was designed to signal the pallet being compliant to customs inspectors without the need for further investigation or related paperwork to prove compliance.

1/2 Branded markings of the European Pallet Association e.V.

3 IPPC branded marking in accordance with the national plant protection rules (mandatory since 01/01/2010 for EPAL pallets)

4 Country code

5 Registration number of the responsible Plant Protection Authority

6 Method of treatment (heat treatment)

7 EPAL control staple (mandatory)

8 Repair marking nail (only present if the pallet is a repaired EPAL pallet)

9 Licence number – Year – Month

10 FOR50. The EPAL FOR50 code on a pallet signifies that the pallet is compliant with the European Pallet Association (EPAL) standards for repair.

The ISO 3166-2 codes for each country appear below. These codes are found on IPPC stamps, allowing you to identify the country of origin for wood packaging, including pallets.

(Table sourced at Canadianpallets.com)

ISPM 15 stamps also tell us the type of treatment that pallets have undergone. The currently accepted practices include heat treatment using conventional steam or dry kiln heat chamber (HT), heat treatment using dielectric heating (DT) and fumigation with methyl bromide (MB). 

Treatment Process Stamps

HT: Conventional steam or dry kiln heat chamber

DT: Dielectric heating

MB: Methyl bromide

Pallet Markings and Colors to Denote Pool Pallets

Pallet stamps or brands are also used for other purposes. They can signify different pallet models or sizes. The CP (chemical) pallet pool, for example, includes nine different models (CP1 through CP9) to communicate the pool program (CP) and the model numbers.  

They may also signify the pallet owner or pallet pool name. Pallets marked EPAL (European Pallet Association) make up the world’s largest pool. EPAL does not own EPAL pallets but rather assures their quality.

In addition to the pool brand and ISPM 15 information, major pallet poolers also often paint their pallets. Using a distinctive color can aid in preventing pallet loss Generally speaking, several considerations go into selecting a pallet color, including UV and scuff resistance, differentiation from other competing poolers, marketing and esthetic values, and last but not least, relative cost. 

Pallet Pool Colors

Canadian Pallet Council (now defunct) – orange
CHEP – blue
PECO (North America) – red
U.S. Postal Service – orange stripe
Loscam (Australasia) – red (Australia), yellow (Asia) and grey (New Zealand)
IPP (Europe) – brick
LPR (Europe) – red
Svenska Retursystem (Sweden) – grey
NLP (Norway) – grey
The Beer Store (Ontario) – green
Euro Pool System – green
IFCO Dora Pallet – green

Aside from visual attractiveness for marketing purposes, color aids material handling personnel in quickly identifying pallets, for example, when receiving pallets under load or when selecting the appropriate pallet for load building. Color is also useful for such tasks as taking physical inventory of pallets sitting at height in storage racks, the color making them easier to identify. Pallet users also employ color-coded pallets to signal other important information, such as the contents on top of the pallet.

While the future is brimming with potential for pallets equipped with IoT sensors to bury us in a tidal wave of data, pallets can already tell us quite a bit. Whether you use pallets or appreciate their role, stop and check them out. You will likely identify some of the pallet markings mentioned above.

Rick LeBlanc

Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.