A pallet is a flat platform, usually wooden or plastic, on which cartons or bags are stacked and secured for forklift handling, forming the basic unit load in food and agricultural trade.
In trade practice
The EUR/EPAL pallet measuring 800×1200 mm is the dominant standard in EU trade, and buyers frequently specify it in purchase contracts. Wooden pallets used in international shipments must comply with ISPM 15, which requires heat treatment and marking to prevent the spread of plant pests. QA teams check that pallets are clean, structurally intact and free from contamination before loading. A common mistake is using non-ISPM-15-marked pallets for third-country exports, which can cause border delays.
In a specification
Specifications and purchase orders typically state pallet type (EUR/EPAL), maximum gross weight per pallet and ISPM 15 compliance as a mandatory requirement for wooden pallets.