What the classification says
The pallet is contaminated in such a way that this may lead to the contamination of the payload.
How to spot it
Paint, oil, odour, mould and damp stains are the examples on the 2023 poster. Smell the pallet as well as looking at it.
Why it matters
Contamination is judged by what could reach the goods, not by how the pallet looks. Paint, oil, chemical spills, strong odours, mould and damp stains all qualify in EPAL's poster, and a single contaminated pallet can spoil food, pharmaceutical or retail loads. No structural repair fixes a soaked-in contaminant, so these pallets go to recycling, and you should tell the recycler what the contaminant is.
Effect on the pallet's class
Not fit for use, whatever its colour or structure. See Not fit for use for the full criteria.
Repair
Not a structural repair; contaminated pallets are generally recycled.
If no licensed repairer is practical, sell sound timber as non-EPAL wood or send the pallets for recycling.