Since the very beginning of this year, several European countries have informed to receive fake Euro pallets. In this case, EPAL has provided a number of inspections. Results revealed that counterfeits were delivered from Ukraine to Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and some other countries.
The European Pallet Association e. V. (EPAL) unites licensed producers and repairers of Euro pallets and does not pursue any commercial goals. This organization is also responsible for pallets quality. That is why it is authorized to conduct independent quality inspections.
What is more, EPAL has been giving licenses to the producers and repairers of pallets since the 1st of August 2013. Nowadays it is represented in more than thirty countries.
In this case, EPAL has warned European countries that fake Euro pallets were delivered from Ukraine during the current year. For instance, a large-scale inspection was conducted by this organization at the Ukrainian-Slovakian border in September 2015 in order to reveal infringements.
The inspection, conducted in cooperation with independent inspection company Bureau Veritas and the authorities of Slovakia, lasted one week. It was performed in order to prevent illegal import of pallet counterfeits from Ukraine to the European countries.
During this inspection, which lasted one week, six truckloads were examined. The results of examination revealed that two of them were loaded with counterfeits of a low quality. The number of fake pallets transported was estimated at 1000 ones. All of these counterfeits were seized and destroyed. Beyond that, new inspections were planned on the Ukrainian borders with other countries, such as Poland and Hungary.
In these circumstances, the European Pallet Association underlines that counterfeit pallets are forbidden to be ordered, sold, imported and stored. To avoid purchasing fake Euro pallets, EPAL advices to order pallets only from EPAL-licensed Ukrainian companies. In order to prevent confusion, this organization has created special list of these companies, which is available for importers.
Otherwise, in case pallets are purchased from the company, which does not possess EPAL-license, they should be inspected by this organization as soon as possible. There are also some tips how to distinguish counterfeits. First of all, they are sold at a price significantly lower the market one.
Consequently, such pallets are of a low quality, which can be noticed even visually. Beyond that, counterfeits are usually characterized by the lack of control staples, incorrect or contradictory branded markings or any other obvious quality defects.
For instance, those pallets, which were seized at the Ukrainian/Slovakian border, were identified due to the counterfeit branded markings on the side and center blocks. A genuine EPAL branded marking looks like "EPAL in oval". A lack of staples was also defined.
On condition that any infringements of the EPAL trademark are revealed, they should be immediately notified to EPAL. Pallets with wrong branded marking are not permitted to be stored without having informed EPAL about their receiving. In case that importer does not inform about any kind of infringement, it becomes the party of illegal pallet deliverance and is to be prosecuted.
In accordance with the EPAL's statutory regulations, counterfeit Euro pallets are to be destroyed on behalf of the European Pallet Association. The expenses concerning fake pallets destruction will be born by the illegal importers in this case.
In summary, during the current year the European Pallet Association was informed about fake Euro pallets deliverance from Ukraine to the European Union. A large-scale inspection, performed at the Ukrainian/Slovakian border, revealed that counterfeits were transported. In this case, EPAL warned European importers about probability of purchasing fake pallets and gave some tips how to avoid such situation.
