Pallet Requirements for Exporting to the EU from Sri Lanka

The European Union is Sri Lanka's largest export market for goods including tea, apparel, rubber products, and spices. It also has some of the strictest biosecurity requirements for wooden packaging in the world. Here's exactly what Sri Lankan exporters need to know to ensure their pallets pass EU customs without issues.

The EU's ISPM 15 Requirements

The European Union has fully adopted ISPM 15 and strictly enforces it at all EU ports of entry. Any wooden packaging material — including pallets, crates, dunnage, and wooden spools — that enters the EU without an IPPC mark can be seized, treated at the importer's expense, or destroyed.

The EU does not make exceptions based on the country of origin, the value of the goods, or the relationship between exporter and importer. Compliance is mandatory.

Heat Treatment Only — MB is Not Accepted

This is the most important point for Sri Lankan exporters to understand: the EU does not accept wooden packaging treated with methyl bromide (MB). Since 2010, only heat treatment (HT) has been accepted for wooden packaging entering the EU.

If your pallet carries an MB stamp, it will be rejected at the EU border — regardless of whether the treatment was correctly carried out. Always use heat-treated (HT) pallets for any EU-bound shipment.

What the IPPC Stamp Must Show

The IPPC mark on EU-bound pallets must include:

All four elements must be present and legible. Marks on labels are not accepted — the stamp must be physically applied to the wood.

Treatment Certificates

While the IPPC stamp on the pallet is the primary compliance requirement, many EU importers, customs brokers, and port authorities also request a heat treatment certificate as part of the shipping documentation. This document confirms the producer's registration, the treatment date, the temperature and duration achieved, and the pallet count.

CeyPall provides an official heat treatment certificate with every order. Keep this document with your other export paperwork and make it available to your freight forwarder.

Pallet Size for EU Shipments

The standard pallet size for European markets is the Euro pallet: 1200 × 800 mm. Most EU warehouses, distribution centres, and logistics operators are built around this format. While other sizes can technically be used, your EU buyer may specifically request 1200 × 800 mm, and using a different size may reduce efficiency in their receiving dock.

Confirm with your EU buyer before ordering pallets for a European shipment.

EU Port Inspections

EU customs authorities carry out random and targeted inspections of wooden packaging at ports of entry. Shipments from certain origins are inspected more frequently. If your pallet is inspected and found to be non-compliant, the cost of re-treatment, storage, and potential destruction of the packaging falls entirely on the importer — which may result in a charge-back to you as the exporter.

Checklist: Is Your Pallet EU-Compliant?

CeyPall Supplies EU-Compliant Pallets

CeyPall (Pvt) Ltd has been supplying EU-compliant ISPM 15 heat-treated pallets to Sri Lankan exporters for over two decades. All pallets carry the HT stamp and are supplied with treatment certificates. We manufacture Euro-size (1200 × 800 mm) and all other standard international dimensions, with island-wide delivery across Sri Lanka.