According to the European Pallet Association e.V. (EPAL), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) does not impose any obligations or additional costs on users of EPAL pallets.
The regulation has no impact on the logistics processes of suppliers and recipients of goods and the exchange of EPAL pallets. The application of the EUDR begins on 30.12.2025. In addition to many other products, new EPAL pallets also fall within the scope of the EUDR.
In contrast, the EUDR Not applicable for loaded EPAL pallets and for used EPAL pallets. Users of new or used EPAL pallets are therefore not required to check the EUDR conformity of EPAL pallets when delivering, receiving or storing goods on new or used EPAL pallets.
„Pallets loaded with goods are expressly excluded from the application of the EUDR. This means that the supplier of goods does not have to obtain information on the EUDR conformity of the EPAL pallets he uses or communicate this to the recipient of the goods. No EUDR obligations apply to the recipients of goods on EPAL pallets either. The EUDR therefore does not create any additional work for users of EPAL pallets.“
Jarek Maciążek, President of EPAL
The exception of used pallets means that EPAL pallet exchange and empty pallet management are also not affected by the EUDR. Users of EPAL pallets therefore do not have to fulfil any EUDR obligations when exchanging, selling or delivering used empty EPAL pallets.
EPAL supports the objective of the EUDR to protect forests from deforestation and forest degradation. The EUDR conformity of new EPAL pallets, which also applies to used EPAL pallets, will in future be guaranteed by the manufacturers of EPAL pallets. This check and document the origin of the wood material and ensure that this is not associated with deforestation or forest degradation.
Background:
The EUDR applies not only to timber products, but also to agricultural products such as coffee and cocoa, palm oil, soya, rubber and even animals (cattle). What all these products have in common is that in the past, forests on other continents were cleared to produce them in order to gain arable land. Wood is not one of them. However, the European Timber Regulation (EUTR) has applied to wood and wood products since 2010 and is now being replaced by the EUDR. Manufacturers of EPAL pallets are therefore already familiar with checking the origin, legality and sustainability of wood and wood products. What is new is that this now no longer only applies to imports into the EU, but also to products that are manufactured or exported in the EU.
Source: EPAL
