ISO Standards for Export Plastic Pallets: What You Must Comply With

Reviewed and updated by ICD - Week 43/2026

Export plastic pallets fall under two ISO standards about the pallet itself: ISO 6780:2003 on dimensions and the ISO 8611 series on load testing, of which parts 1 and 2 now have 2025 editions. ISO 6780 recognises 6 sizes, the most common being 1200 x 1000, 1100 x 1100 and 1200 x 800 mm. Unlike wooden pallets, plastic pallets are outside the scope of ISPM 15 so need no heat treatment or IPPC stamp. Goods to Europe from 12 August 2026 must also account for the EU’s new packaging regulation on heavy metals in materials.

When export customers ask me “are your pallets ISO compliant”, I always ask back: what documents does the partner on the other side require. Since I started with pallets at ICD Vietnam in 2011, I have seen that most snags lie not in the pallet but in the two sides understanding “compliant” differently: some think it means a certificate, some need a test report, some only need the right size. This article separates each standard so you know what it applies to and what paperwork goes with it, covering both domestically made export plastic pallets and the imported Malaysian line.

What are ISO standards, and which apply to pallets

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the international body that develops and publishes standards. For pallets, ISO standards standardise dimensions, load test methods and terminology so that a pallet packed in Vietnam still fits forklifts, racking and containers in the importing country. If you are interested, the article on the GMA pallet standard is also worth a look.

One point to separate from the start: only some standards speak directly about the pallet itself (dimensions, load capacity); the rest apply to the plant that makes pallets (environment, machine safety). Most ISO standards on pallets have been adopted by Vietnam as national standards (TCVN) with equivalent content, so businesses can look up the Vietnamese edition. The table below gathers the standards most often mentioned, with the edition in force as of October 2026 and the paperwork a partner actually receives.

There is one mismatch few people notice: ISO issued 2025 editions for parts 1 and 2 of ISO 8611, while TCVN 10173-2:2025, only issued in May 2025, is equivalent to the 2021 ISO edition. If a contract says “tested to ISO 8611” without a year, ask the partner which edition they accept before sending samples for testing.

ISO 6780: standard dimensions of export pallets

ISO 6780 sets the principal dimensions and tolerances of flat pallets used in intercontinental transport. It is a voluntary standard: it becomes mandatory only when a partner writes an ISO size into the contract, at which point the pallet must have the agreed dimensions and tolerances. The standard does not set a fixed overall height.

Besides length and width, TCVN 9022:2011 (ISO 6780:2003) also sets the fork opening height so the pallet works with many kinds of equipment along the whole export journey. The standard applies to single-face and double-face pallets of any material; for plastic pallets, dimensions must be measured at 23 °C ± 2 °C.

The three levels of 89, 95 and 100 mm correspond to low-profile, standard and high pallets when using hand pallet trucks. Before ordering for an export shipment, it is worth asking what equipment the warehouse partner on the other side uses, because a pallet of the right size whose fork opening is lower than their hand truck’s forks still causes trouble at unloading.

Pallet size by destination market

The six sizes in TCVN 9022:2011 (ISO 6780:2003) are 1200 x 800, 1200 x 1000, 1219 x 1016, 1067 x 1067, 1100 x 1100 and 1140 x 1140 mm. In practice, 1200 x 800 mm is common in Europe, 1219 x 1016 mm (48 x 40 inch) in North America, 1100 x 1100 mm in Japan, Korea and many Asian countries, while 1200 x 1000 mm is widely used in both Europe and Asia. The 1165 x 1165 mm size of the Australian market is close to 1140 x 1140 mm but not the same, so for goods to Australia ask for the exact dimensions.

In the ICD Vietnam plastic pallet catalogue with published dimensions (176 codes, checked on 11 October 2026), the three most used ISO sizes are 1200 x 1000 mm with 46 codes, 1100 x 1100 mm with 26 codes and 1200 x 800 mm with 15 codes. The 1140 x 1140 mm and 1219 x 1016 mm sizes are in the imported Malaysian export pallet line. The detailed table of sizes, heights and weights for each type is in the article on standard plastic pallet dimensions.

ISO 8611: load capacity testing

ISO 8611 does not grade a pallet “pass” or “fail” in general, but measures load capacity under each support condition. ISO 8611-1:2025 divides the tests into three groups: determining the nominal load, determining the maximum working load and comparing strength between samples. Support conditions include the pallet resting on the floor and stacked, resting on racking with a free span, and being lifted by forklift or hand pallet truck, along with foot compression, base bending and impact tests.

Part 1 describes the test methods, part 2 sets performance requirements and how to choose tests for conditions of use (stacked on the floor, on racking, lifted by forklift), and part 3 determines the maximum working load. According to TCVN 10173-2:2025 (ISO 8611-2:2021), the nominal load is the lowest safe load level for the stated support condition, while the maximum working load is determined separately for each load type and intended mode of use. So when a partner asks for a pallet that meets ISO 8611, ask clearly for which condition they need test results: on the floor, on racking or when lifted.

A business can invest in its own test equipment or send samples to an accredited laboratory. Cost and time depend on the number of tests, so get a laboratory quote before committing to a partner. The standard itself also notes that laboratory results do not replace trial use in practice, so for new goods or a new route, running a small trial lot is still the surest way.

Plastic pallets and ISPM 15

Plastic pallets are outside the scope of ISPM 15, so there is nothing to “pass” or stamp. ISPM 15 is a phytosanitary standard issued by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), not an ISO standard, but it is the requirement exporters meet most often.

Under the IPPC’s ISPM 15 text, the rule applies to packaging made of raw wood, including dunnage. Processed wood such as plywood, particleboard and OSB, and wood 6 mm thick or less, lie outside the scope. Wood packaging must be treated, most commonly by heat treatment so that the wood core reaches 56 °C for 30 continuous minutes, then stamped. One case often forgotten: a plastic pallet with feet or slats of raw wood still needs that wood treated.

Paperwork accompanying pallets by market

No ISPM 15 does not mean plastic pallets need no paperwork anywhere. Each market asks differently, and this is where I see businesses most on the back foot when a partner sends requirements close to the packing date.

Europe: new packaging regulation from 12 August 2026

Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) applies from 12 August 2026. Pallets belong to the transport packaging group, and Article 5 limits the total of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium in packaging to 100 mg/kg. Article 29 also sets a target that from 2030 at least 40% of transport packaging, including pallets and plastic crates, must be reusable. EU buyers may therefore ask for a declaration of conformity from the packaging manufacturer.

For recycled plastic pallets, especially the black type made from reclaimed plastic, the raw material is harder to control, so ask for the raw material’s heavy metal test results before accepting an order to the EU. Previously, Decision 2009/292/EC allowed plastic crates and pallets in a controlled closed loop to exceed this level; how that exemption applies under the new regulation should be checked with the importing partner.

Australia, the US and other markets

Australia does not require plastic pallets to be treated like wood, but sea containers must still carry a Packing Declaration stating whether wood, bamboo or straw was used and the cleanliness of the container; a missing declaration can mean the container is opened for inspection. In the US, the wood packaging material rule (7 CFR 319.40) defines its subject as wood and wood products, so plastic pallets are outside. For every market, the number and weight of pallets is still stated on the packing list and added to gross weight.

One-way pallets and circulating pallets

One-way pallets travel with the goods, are sold with the lot and are not recovered, so a light, moderately priced type is usually chosen. Circulating pallets are sent abroad and come back, and for customs purposes belong to means of containing goods under a circulation scheme (Article 49 of Decree 08/2015/ND-CP, as amended), with separate temporary export and re-import procedures. Decide which form from the start, because it affects the pallet type, documents and how quantities are tracked.

ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 11161: standards for the plant, not for the pallet

These standards assess a plant’s management system or line, not the pallet. ISO 9001 is a quality management system, ISO 14001 is an environmental management system (the only standard in the ISO 14000 family used for certification), and ISO 11161:2007 is machine safety for integrated manufacturing systems. A partner may ask to learn a supplier’s capability, but they do not replace the ISO 6780 dimensions or the ISO 8611 test report. So the phrase “ISO 9001 pallet” is inaccurate: the certificate is issued to the plant, not to the product.

Points to note when choosing export plastic pallets

Three things to settle before ordering pallets for an export shipment are the right size for the destination market, the paperwork the partner really requires, and a material that suits the goods, especially food goods or goods to the EU.

Conclusion

Related article: Where to buy export plastic pallets

Frequently asked questions

What is the standard size of a plastic pallet?

There is no single size. ISO 6780 recognises six sizes: 1200 x 800, 1200 x 1000, 1219 x 1016, 1067 x 1067, 1100 x 1100 and 1140 x 1140 mm, and does not set an overall height. In Vietnam, 1200 x 1000 mm has the most codes, followed by 1100 x 1100 mm. The final size should follow the importing partner’s requirement.

What standard pallet types are there?

By region there is the EUR pallet 1200 x 800 mm in Europe, the 48 x 40 inch pallet (1219 x 1016 mm) in North America, 1100 x 1100 mm in Japan, Korea and Asia, and 1165 x 1165 mm in Australia. By construction there are single-face and double-face, 2-way and 4-way entry, nestable types and stackable or racking types.

What is a pallet in import-export?

It is a goods-containing means that gathers several packages into one load unit for forklift handling. On documents, the number and weight of pallets are stated in the packing list and added to gross weight. Pallets sent out and taken back are handled under the circulating containing-means scheme.

Do plastic pallets need ISO certification?

There is no ISO certification for the pallet itself. What the partner receives is a drawing, specification table or measurement report under ISO 6780 and a test report under ISO 8611; ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 certification is issued to the plant.

Do export plastic pallets need ISPM 15 fumigation like wooden pallets?

No. ISPM 15 applies only to packaging made of raw wood; plastic pallets are outside its scope so are not treated or stamped with the IPPC mark. If a plastic pallet has feet or slats of raw wood, that wood still needs treatment.

Does Vietnam have a national standard for pallets?

Yes. TCVN 9022:2011 is equivalent to ISO 6780:2003 on dimensions and tolerances; the TCVN 10173 series is equivalent to ISO 8611 on load testing, of which TCVN 10173-2:2025 is equivalent to ISO 8611-2:2021. These are voluntary standards, and how binding they are depends on the contract with the partner.

How do export wooden pallet standards differ from plastic pallets?

Both refer to ISO 6780 for dimensions and ISO 8611 for load testing. The difference lies in quarantine: wooden pallets must be treated under ISPM 15 and stamped with the IPPC mark, while plastic pallets are outside its scope. As a result, plastic pallets shorten procedures and avoid the risk of goods being held because a wooden pallet lacks the treatment mark.

Contact for export plastic pallet advice

References

• International standards for pallet dimensions and construction in logistics - Material Handling Industry (MHI) - Pallets.
• Dimensions and fork opening height - TCVN 9022:2011 (ISO 6780:2003).
• Flat pallet load testing - ISO 8611-1:2025, ISO 8611-2:2025; TCVN 10173-2:2025 (ISO 8611-2:2021).
• Wood packaging material in international trade - ISPM 15, International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
• Packaging and packaging waste - Regulation (EU) 2025/40; Decision 2009/292/EC on plastic crates and pallets in a closed loop.
• Import packing declaration - Australian Department of Agriculture (Packing Declaration).
• Circulating goods-containing means - Article 49 of Decree 08/2015/ND-CP and amending documents.
• Methyl bromide ban in the EU - Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
• Environmental management system - ISO 14001; machine safety - ISO 11161:2007.
• Number of codes by size - ICD Vietnam plastic pallet catalogue, checked on 11 October 2026.

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