New fracture between UIC and EPAL on the interscambiabilità of the pallets



The board of directors of the European Pallet Association (EPAL) has deliberated unanimously that from the next 1° May the interscambiabilità between europallet the EPAL and pallets UIC/EUR stops in October introduced 2014 from EPAL and the Rail Cargo Austria (RCA) on behalf of the Union Internationale DES Chemins de Fer (UIR).

The European Association Pallet has motivated the decision adducing deficiencies in the organization of the pool of interchange UIC, included mancanze in the field of the quality guarantee and in the fight against the import in the EU of false pallets UIC/EUR. The EPAL has specified that, in order to avoid difficulty to the users, an adapted transient period for the interchange of pallets UIC/EUR is previewed produced until the end last month.

The EPAL has denounced that by when is stipulated the agreement of interchange between EPAL and the UIC this last one it has not adopted adequate measures in order to guarantee the quality and safety of pallets UIC/EUR comparable to those assumed from the European Association Pallet. Moreover, second the EPAL, in many nations the UIC does not have organized in some way the interchange pool and meanwhile, in two years and means of negotiations, the UIC - it has evidenced the European association - has always refused the proposal of the EPAL to adopt adequate measures of guarantee of the quality and protection of the brand for pallets UIC/EUR.

"In consideration of the negative consequences of such attitude of the UIC - it has explained the European association - the EPAL does not consider more in a position to continuing to recommend the interchange of europallet EPAL with pallet UIC/EUR. For EPAL the suspension of the interchange is the only way for an effective guarantee of quality and safety of the pool of europallet EPAL also in future. Therefore, in order to guarantee safety of collaborators, logistic goods and processes, for the future EPAL it recommends to use and to interscambiare europallet EPAL exclusively".

The EPAL has specified that, if the recommendation to suspend the interchange between europallet EPAL and pallet UIC/EUR has effect from the next 1°maggio, the recommendation up to now in vigor of interscambiare also marked pallets EUR (UIC, MAV, CD, ADUF, Green Cargo etc) remains valid until on December 31, 2021 and is limited to the pallets produced within and not beyond on February 28, 2017 in the full respect of Twats UIC from the 435-2 to 435-6.

"the EPAL - the managing director of the association has asserted, Martin Leibrandt - cannot more guarantee that pallets UIC/EUR satisfy the legitimate demand for quality and safety that industry, commerce and logistics turned in it confronts of europallet the EPAL. In particular - it has emphasized - the quality and safety of the pool of pallet EPAL are compromised by the uncontrolled imports of false pallets UIC/EUR. From searches of the EPAL - it has clarified Leibrandt - it turns out that on the market there are more than four million false pallets UIC/EUR Ukrainian origin and this number is in continuous increase. They are mostly criminal organizations of Europe oriental to counterfeit pallets UIC/EUR, as the forgery of europallet EPAL has become risky thanks to the joint actions of the EPAL, the customs authorities and the lawyers. The EPAL - it has concluded Leibrandt - stands surety for the quality and safety of the pool of europallet EPAL. The industry, the commerce and the logistics can be trusted such guarantee".

UIC has defined "not comprehensible" the resolution of the contract of interchangeability between pallets UIC/EUR and EPAL, cessation - the International Union has complained of the Railroads - that is assumed with unilateral decision.

The Union Internationale DES Chemins de Fer has rejected to the sender the accusation of deficiencies in the controls of guarantee of the quality of the pallets and of lacked or inadequate reaction regarding the cases of violation of the right of the marks of factory.

"The Network of the UIC - it has replied the international association - does not admit compromises on the quality. For us safety and the quality of our pallets have the maximum priority. It is the associated railway societies to the UIC that RCA AG, in quality of titling of the rights of brand EUR, the more disparate measures adopt in order to enforce requirement of Twats UIC 435-2. In order to guarantee that pallets EUR satisfy the standards of qualities demanded in the interest of the customers and the partner, the railroads associated to the UIC make resorted to independent agencies of control as the SGS Germany GmbH. With beyond 40 years of experience in the field, the SGS occupies a position leader world-wise in the field of the control, the validity and the certification".

"Counterfeit pallets EUR - it has continued the UIC - represent a remarkable risk for safety of the users and the goods. The railroads associated to the UIC take part with firmness against every violation and assume the suitable measures, if necessary with the assistance of the national authorities, and this above all because they are not simply limited to emit licences, but same they use pallets EUR in their activities of handling and transport. The hint that pallets UIC are counterfeit - has replied moreover the UIC - it lacks any foundation: unfortunately - it has observed the international association - the violation of the law on the marks can interest all the producers of pallet. In reality the UIC has demonstrated an implacable rigor against every form of swindle".

The UIC has evidenced that the decision of the EPAL to place term to the agreement will have the single effect "to undermine the pallet pool "which open and long-lasting solution that offers remarkable to advantages in terms of price respect to other systems as the chartering of pallet. Moreover the revocation of the agreement will create uncertainty between the users. The UIC and the associated railway societies - it has concluded the international association - will in future continue to recognize equivalence between the two marks of pallet and the their possible interchange, because still we believe in the existence of a pool of pallet without borders or barriers and we defend it with determination".