epalrecycling.comEuro pallet reference for the US and Canada

Heat-treated vs methyl bromide pallets

HT pallets were heated to at least 56 °C through the wood for 30 minutes; MB pallets were fumigated with methyl bromide for at least 24 hours. Both are ISPM 15 treatments and both appear in US and Canadian rules, but ISPM 15 encourages alternatives to methyl bromide because it depletes the ozone layer, and EPAL prohibits it on EPAL pallets.

Document
GDE-003
Sheet
Guides
Last reviewed
Sources
5 cited
Exporters and importersFor

Side by side

HTMB
MethodHeat in a steam or dry kiln chamberFumigation with methyl bromide
Requirement56 °C throughout the wood for 30 continuous minutesConcentration-time product of 650 to 900 g·h/m³ over 24 h depending on temperature, wood at least 10 °C
Size limitNone stated for chamber HTNot for wood over 20 cm at its smallest cross-section
EPAL palletsRequired for new EPAL pallets since 1 Jan 2010Prohibited, including repaired pallets
US ruleNamed in 7 CFR 319.40-3Named in 7 CFR 319.40-3
Canada D-98-08ApprovedApproved

What to buy

For exports, buy HT. It is what EPAL requires and what European receivers expect on an EPAL pallet. ISPM 15 itself asks national authorities to promote alternatives to methyl bromide.

What to do with MB pallets you receive

They are not illegal to hold or to sell domestically. But an EPAL-branded pallet marked MB is not a normal EPAL pallet, so do not sell it as one.

Sources

Last reviewed . Figures come from these publications; follow the links for the current versions.

  1. ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade (adopted 2018, published 2019), IPPC Secretariat / FAO
  2. EPAL Euro pallet (EPAL 1), load-carrier page, European Pallet Association e.V.
  3. 7 CFR 319.40-3, general permits; regulated wood packaging material, eCFR, US Government Publishing Office
  4. D-98-08: Entry requirements for wood packaging material into Canada (11th version, effective 2026-04-01), Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  5. ISPM 15: protection of international ecosystems, European Pallet Association e.V.

What do you need to do with them?

Pick one. Each form takes about a minute and goes to one partner, not a list of dealers.

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