All new approved EPAL pallets from all EPAL partners worldwide will be ISPM15 compliant to meet export standards around the globe from January 2010 .

ISPM15 is an internationally agreed standard for the treatment of wood packaging. It is progressively being adopted worldwide as a measure to minimise the risk of unintentional plant pest transportation such as the Asian longhorn beetle and pinewood nematode, and reduce import delays among ISPM15 member countries.

Member countries include the EU, the US, China, Australia, Canada and a large part of the Americas.

To qualify, all new EPAL pallets will be subject to heat-treatment and kiln-drying, maintaining a temperature of at least 56oC for a minimum of 30 minutes, in a process similar to pasteurisation. Within the UK and Ireland, each new EPAL pallet that has been through this process will carry the UK WPMMP stamp (Wood Packaging Material Marking Programme).

Paul Davidson, ceo of EPAL within the UK and Ireland, said: “As the first pallet pool to implement these phytosanitary commitments as standard, EPAL is leading the way in worldwide pallet trade in response to customer demand. Across the whole network, we anticipate 70 million new pallets will be treated during the first year.

“Here in the UK and Ireland, we are proud to announce that all approved partners can meet these new standards ahead of the deadline - with all partners already able to supply ISPM15-compliant EPAL pallets.”