The agreement comes first
EPAL's Quality Classification is a non-binding recommendation. It only applies when the companies involved agree to it. Without that agreement, the EPAL Terms of Exchange apply, under which new and used Euro pallets of classes A, B and C are exchangeable without restriction. So the first question is whether your customer wants a class at all.
The four practical choices
| Class | Choose it when | Avoid it when |
|---|---|---|
| New | The customer requires new, or moisture matters (max. 22% residual moisture) | Cost matters more than appearance |
| A | Appearance matters and loads run on automated systems | You cannot verify the criteria; colour alone is not proof |
| B | Sound, machine-suitable pallets where colour is irrelevant | The customer specified A |
| C | Manual handling and one-way loads | Conveyors and high-bay racking; the poster does not mark C as machine-suitable |
Write it down
Put the EPAL type and class in the purchase order and the shipping instructions. Then request a quote.